COVID-19: booster(s) vs. hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit admission

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic necessitates evaluating vaccine effectiveness against severe disease and new variants.
• Booster protocols are crucial for maintaining and enhancing population immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the vaccination status of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• To compare the efficacy of different vaccination and booster protocols, including the impact on intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 5,331 hospitalized COVID-19 patients was enrolled from 28 Turkish hospitals between September 2021 and January 2022.
• Data collected included patient demographics, vaccination status, and ICU admission rates.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of varying doses and booster regimens.

Main Results:

• Vaccination significantly reduced the risk of ICU hospitalization compared to unvaccinated individuals.
• Four doses of vaccine provided the highest risk reduction across all age groups.
• The risk of ICU admission decreased 1.25-fold with 1-2 doses, 1.18-fold with 3 doses, and 3.26-fold with 4 doses of vaccine.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the substantial benefit of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing severe disease and ICU admission.
• A fourth vaccine dose demonstrates superior efficacy in reducing the risk of intensive care, even for high-risk individuals.