INDIANAPOLIS -- New real-world evidence gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective at protecting against COVID-19-associatedhospitalizations in people who are immunocompromised.

In general, immunocompromised individuals are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

These findings indicate thatwhile two-doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are beneficial inimmunocompromised individuals, theyaresignificantlyless protected from severe disease than people with normal immune systems, said study lead author PeterEmb, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief Institute president and chief executive officer andassociate dean for informatics and health services research at theIndiana UniversitySchool of Medicine. Since they are less protected after a two-dose series, those who are immunocompromisedshould receive an additional dose and a booster, take additional precautions like masking when in public, and, if they get infected, they should seek treatment with proven therapies that can protect against progression to severe disease and the need for hospitalization.

The research team gathered data from more than 89,000 hospitalizations across nine states, making this the largest study of its kind evaluating COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among immunocompromised people. Data analyses showed that mRNA vaccines (manufactured by Pfizer andModerna) were 90 percent effective at protecting against COVID-related hospitalization in immunocompetent individuals, whereasthey wereonly 77 percent effective in those with suppressed immunity due to a range of health conditions. The differences were similar across age groups. However, the effectiveness varied greatly amongimmunocompromisedsubgroups. For example, it was lower in organ or stem cell transplant patients and better in people with rheumatologic or inflammatory disorders.

Thedata camefrom theVISION Network,a collaboration between the CDC andseven organizationswith integrated medical, laboratory and vaccination records. The network was established to assessthe effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.In addition to Regenstrief Institute, other members are Columbia University Irving Medical Center, HealthPartners, Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and University of Colorado.

The paper,Effectiveness of Two-Dose Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations Among Immunocompromised Adults nine states, JanuarySeptember 2021, is published in the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Dr.Embis the first author. Other authors from Regenstrief and IU are Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S.; Brian Dixon, PhD, MPA; William F. Fadel, PhD andNimish R.Valvi, DrPH.

Other authors on the paper areMatthew E. Levy, PhD, ofWestat; Allison L.Naleway, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Palak Patel, MBBS, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team;ManjushaGaglani, MBBS, of Texas A&M University; Karthik Natarajan, PhD, of Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital; KristinDascomb, M.D., PhD, of Intermountain Healthcare;ToanC. Ong, PhD, of University of Colorado; Nicola P. Klein, M.D., PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; I-Chia Liao,MPH, of Texas A&M University;JungmiHanof Columbia University; EdwardStenehjem, M.D., of Intermountain Healthcare; Margaret M. Dunne, MSc, ofWestat; Ned Lewis, MPH, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California;Stephanie A. Irving, MHS, ofKaiser Permanente Northwest; Suchitra Rao, MBBS, of University of Colorado; Charlene McEvoy, M.D., of HealthPartners Institute; Catherine H.Bozio, PhD, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team;KempapuraMurthy, MBBS, of Texas A&M University; Nancy Grisel, MPP, of Intermountain Healthcare; Duck-HyeYang, PhD, ofWestat; Kristin Goddard, MPH, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Anupam B. Kharbanda, M.D., of Childrens Minnesota; Sue Reynolds, PhD, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; ChandniRaiyani, MPH, of Intermountain Healthcare; JulieArndorfer, MPH, of Intermountain Healthcare; Elizabeth A. Rowley, DrPH, ofWestate; Bruce Fireman, M.A., of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; JillFerdinands, PhD, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Sarah W. Ball, ScD, ofWestat;OussenyZerbo, PhD. Of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Eric P. Griggs, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Patrick K. Mitchell, ScD, ofWestate; Rachael M. Porter, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Salome A.Kiduko, MPH, ofWestat;LeneeBlanton, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Yan Zhuang, PhDofWestat; Andrea Steffens, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Sarah E. Reese, PhD, ofWestat; Natalie Olson, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Jeremiah Williams, MPH, of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Monica Dickerson, MPH,of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Meredith McMorrow, M.D.of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Stephanie J.Schrag, DPhil,of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Jennifer R.Verani, M.D.of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Alicia M. Fry, M.D.of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; EduardoAzziz-Baumgartner, M.D.of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team; Michelle A. Barron, M.D., of the University of Colorado; Mark G. Thompson, PhD,of the CDC COVID-19 Response TeamandMalini B. DeSilva, M.D. of HealthPartners Institute.

About Regenstrief Institute

Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, theRegenstrief Instituteis a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its research scientists are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.

Sam Regenstrief, a nationally successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institutes research mission.

About IU School of Medicine

IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.

AboutPeterEmb, M.D., M.S.

In addition to serving as the president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute, PeterEmb, M.D., M.S. is the LeonardBetleyProfessor of Medicine and associate dean for informatics and health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine, associate director of informatics with Indiana Clinical andTranslational Sciences Institute and vice president for Learning Health Systems with Indiana University Health.

Effectiveness of 2-Dose Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19Associated Hospitalizations Among Immunocompromised Adults Nine States, JanuarySeptember 2021

2-Nov-2021

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