Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Moderna vaccine recipients have lower risk of breakthrough infections, hospitalization: study

Share

A new study has found that people who received the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine are less likely to experience breakthrough infections compared to those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA shot.

The study, led by researchers out of Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University, also found that people who received the Moderna jab were less likely to be hospitalized following a breakthrough infection than Pfizer vaccine recipients.

The findings were published Thursday, in the peer-reviewed .

A is when an individual tests positive for COVID-19 more than 14 days after completing the recommended series of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the study, researchers examined the electronic health records of more than 637,000 fully vaccinated patients from 63 healthcare organizations across the U.S., analyzing breakthrough COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and death rates between July and November 2021, when the Delta variant was the dominant virus strain circulating in communities.

According to the study, incidents of breakthrough infections were included if the person had not been previously infected with COVID-19 or had received a booster shot.

Researchers say the records included fully vaccinated patients from diverse geographic backgrounds, ages, races and ethnicities, income levels, and insurance groups.

"Breakthrough COVID infections, hospitalization and mortality associated with the Delta variant were compared between recipients of Moderna mRNA vaccine and recipient of Pfizer mRNA vaccine while considering patient characteristics and the varying time since vaccination," said Rong Xu, study author and Case Western bioinformatics professor, in a .

The study found that the "monthly incidence rate" of breakthrough cases was higher among those who received the Pfizer vaccine, compared to Moderna.

For example, researchers reported that the data showed 2.8 breakthrough cases per 1,000 Americans in those vaccinated with Pfizer, compared to 1.6 cases in Moderna recipients for November 2021.

When it came to hospitalizations, the study found that the 60-day rate for Moderna recipients was 12.7 per cent, compared to 13.3 per cent for those who received the Pfizer vaccine.

However, the study says there was "no significant difference" in mortality rates among recipients of the two vaccines.

The findings come after some pharmacies in Ontario reported earlier in January that people are walking out after being informed that they would be receiving the Moderna vaccine rather than Pfizer's for their booster shot.

The study's authors maintain that both vaccines are effective despite the difference in breakthrough rates. They say more research is needed in the future to assess these rates following booster doses.

"Although there is a difference in breakthrough infections, both vaccines are highly protective against SARS-COV2 infection and especially against the most severe consequences of infection," said study co-author Pamela Davis in the release.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The City of Calgary ended water restrictions for the city at a Sunday morning update.

A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

Stay Connected