Waning effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in older adults: a rapid review. Issue 5 (30th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nanishi, Etsuro; Levy, Ofer; Ozonoff, Al
• Is Part Of: Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. Volume 18:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-30
• Subjects: Vaccine -- COVID-19 -- waning -- older adults -- effectiveness; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2045857
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2164-5515

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies have recently recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for specific vulnerable groups including adults 65 years and older. There is limited evidence whether vaccine effectiveness (VE) in older adults decreases over time, especially against severe COVID-19. We performed a rapid review of published studies available through 4 November 2021 that provide effectiveness data on messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines approved/licensed in the United States and identified eight eligible studies which evaluated VE in older adults. There is evidence of a decline in VE against both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and severe COVID-19 in older adults among studies which analyzed data up to July–October 2021. Our findings suggest that VE diminishes in older adults, which supports the current recommendation for a booster dose in this population.