Guidance

Monitoring reports of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination

Data on the real-world efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
15 November 2021
Last updated
3 October 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is monitoring the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in the real world as set out in the COVID-19 vaccine surveillance strategy and has published reports on the impact of the COVID-19 vaccines on:

  • symptomatic disease
  • hospitalisation
  • death
  • infection (symptomatic or asymptomatic)

Effectiveness of the adjuvanted Sanofi/GSK (VidPrevtyn Beta) and Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5) bivalent vaccines against hospitalisation amongst adults aged 75 years and older in England, estimated using a test-negative case control study design.

This study estimates vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation of the Sanofi/GSK booster (based on the Beta variant) and the Pfizer Original/BA.4-5 bivalent booster (based on the ancestral and BA.4/5 Omicron sub-lineages), given as part of the spring 2023 vaccination programme, amongst those aged 75 years and older in England.

Duration of protection of ancestral-strain monovalent vaccines and effectiveness of bivalent BA.1 boosters against COVID-19 hospitalisation in England: a test-negative case-control study

This study estimates the long-term duration of protection of the monovalent COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalisation, as well as the incremental vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation of the bivalent BA.1 booster vaccines given as part of the autumn 2022 booster campaign to those aged 50 years or older.

Effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against severe disease with Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 in England

The latest evidence shows that vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation is similar for the BA.4/5 variants as it is for BA.2. ​In somebody who received their second dose around 6 months previously, a booster dose increases protection against hospitalisation by 50% to 60%. This is the most comprehensive analysis of vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for BA.4/5 undertaken to date.

Effectiveness of AstraZeneca COVID-19 booster vaccination against the Omicron and Delta variants.

This study estimates the effectiveness of booster vaccination with AstraZeneca) against symptomatic disease and hospitalisation in individuals who were not able to receive mRNA vaccines in the UK.

Effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron BA.2 sub-lineage

This study estimates the effectiveness of booster vaccination against symptomatic disease caused by the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron and Delta hospitalisation

This study estimates vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with the Omicron and Delta variants and investigates the impact of using different hospitalisation outcome definitions.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalisation with the Omicron variant in adults aged 75 years and older

This study reports on vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with the Omicron variant in adults aged 75 years and older.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against transmission

This study reports on vaccine effectiveness against transmission of COVID-19 with the Alpha and Delta variants.

Effectiveness of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalisation in adults aged 65 years and older

Updated analysis on the effectiveness of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalisation in adults aged 65 years and older.

This study provides real world evidence of significant increased protection from the booster vaccine dose against symptomatic disease and hospitalisation irrespective of the primary course.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern

This study reports on the vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with 2 dose courses of BNT1622 and ChAdOx1-S as well as booster doses of BNT162b2 following a primary course of either BNT1622 or ChAdOx1-S.

Results from the first UK real-world study by UKHSA show significantly increased protection against symptomatic disease from a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in those aged 50 years and older.

Vaccine effectiveness and duration of protection

This study reports on the vaccine effectiveness and duration of protection of Comirnaty, Vaxzevria and Spikevax against mild and severe COVID-19 in the UK.

Different dosing schedules and vaccine effectiveness

This study investigates the impact of different dosing schedules on immune response and vaccine effectiveness.

Vaccine effectiveness in clinical risk groups

This study reports on the immune response and clinical effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine among individuals in clinical risk groups.

Vaccine effectiveness with Delta variant on hospitalisation

This study reports on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines on hospitalisation disease with the Delta variant. A supplementary appendix is also available to download.

Vaccine effectiveness with Delta variant on symptomatic disease

This study reports on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines on symptomatic disease with the Delta variant.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalisation

A study using the SARI watch surveillance system of COVID-19 hospitalisations found high levels of protection against hospitalisation after both a single dose and 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines on mortality

A study on deaths with COVID-19 indicates that COVID-19 vaccines offer high levels of protection against mortality.

Impact on household transmission

Impact of vaccination on household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in England is an analysis to determine whether individuals who have received vaccine, but still become infected with SARS-CoV-2 up to 60 days after the first dose, are less likely than unvaccinated cases to transmit to their unvaccinated household contacts.

VIVALDI study

The VIVALDI study found evidence that COVID-19 vaccines were associated with a substantially reduced risk of infection in care home residents.

Avon CAP study

The Avon CAP study, conducted in 2 hospitals in Bristol, found evidence of high levels of protection against hospitalisation in 80+ year olds with a single dose of either vaccine.

SIREN study

Early data from the SIREN study shows a promising impact on infection in healthcare workers aged under 65. Healthcare workers in the study are tested for COVID-19 every 2 weeks – whether or not they have symptoms.

Early effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in older adults

Early data from routine COVID-19 testing in older adults shows that vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease and severe outcomes.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in England

Report on the impact of COVID-19 vaccination programme on seroprevalence in blood donors in England, 2021.

Public Health England monitoring reports

Monitoring reports previously published by Public Health England (now part of UKHSA).

COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports

COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports are available for:

Earlier reports are available as part of the National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports.

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports are available for:

Published 15 November 2021
Last updated 3 October 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added link to 'Effectiveness of the adjuvanted Sanofi/GSK (VidPrevtyn Beta) and Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5) bivalent vaccines against hospitalisation amongst adults aged 75 years and older in England, estimated using a test-negative case control study design'.

  2. Added link to 'Duration of protection of ancestral-strain monovalent vaccines and effectiveness of bivalent BA.1 boosters against COVID-19 hospitalisation in England: a test-negative case-control study'.

  3. Added link to 'Effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against severe disease with Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 in England'.

  4. Added 'Effectiveness of AstraZeneca COVID-19 booster vaccination against the Omicron and Delta variants'.

  5. Added link to effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron BA.2 sub-lineage study.

  6. Added link to 'Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with the Omicron variant'.

  7. Added link to Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalisation with the Omicron variant in adults aged 75 years and older.

  8. Added link to Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against transmission.

  9. Added link to Effectiveness of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalisation in adults aged 65 years and older.

  10. Added effectiveness of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 booster vaccine against COVID-19 related symptoms and hospitalisation in England: test negative case-control study.

  11. Added Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern.

  12. First published.

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