COVID-19 boosters prevent hospitalizations

Two COVID-19 vaccine doses were less effective at preventing hospitalizations during the omicron BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 periods than during the BA.1 period, but a third and fourth dose provided additional protection to eligible adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Earlier this week, the CDC approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults. The vaccine uses a more familiar type of technology, and the agency plans to target the 26 million to 37 million adults who have not received a vaccine dose yet. Another CDC study found that immunocompromised adults reported fewer negative side effects after receiving their fourth COVID-19 mRNA booster than after their third booster; adverse events were rare for both groups, the CDC said. (CDC report, 7/15/22)