tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2025 Dec;19(12):e70198.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70198. Effectiveness of the 2023 Autumn XBB.1.5 COVID-19 Booster During Summer 2024 in the EU/EEA: A VEBIS Electronic Health Record Network Study
James Humphreys[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nathalie Nicolay[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Toon Braeye[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Izaak Van Evercooren[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Christian Holm Hansen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ida Rask Moustsen-Helms[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Chiara Sacco[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Massimo Fabiani[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jesús Castilla[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Iván Martínez-Baz[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Ausenda Machado[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Patricia Soares[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Rickard Ljung[SUP] 10 11 [/SUP], Nicklas Pihlström[SUP] 10 11 [/SUP], Esther Kissling[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anthony Nardone[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susana Monge[SUP] 12 13 [/SUP], Sabrina Bacci[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Baltazar Nunes[SUP] 1 [/SUP]; VEBIS‐EHR working group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Background: After a period of low SARS-CoV-2 activity, viral circulation increased in Europe from May 2024, driven by immune-evasive KP sublineages of the JN.1 variant. We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the XBB.1.5 dose administered in autumn 2023 against COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths in individuals 65 years of age or older during this period.
Methods: We conducted a multi-country cohort study across six EU nations in the VEBIS-EHR network using linked electronic health records. VE against COVID-19-related hospitalisation and death during June-August 2024 was estimated using Cox regression in a two-stage analysis, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities and prior vaccination history.
Results: Among individuals 65-79 and ≥ 80 years old, respectively, VE of the XBB.1.5 dose ≥ 6 months post administration was 13% (95% CI: -12% to 33%) and 7% (95% CI: -7% to 19%) against hospitalisation and 39% (95% CI: -7% to 65%) and 3% (95% CI: -23% to 23%) against deaths.
Conclusions: XBB.1.5 vaccination provided minimal residual protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes among adults aged ≥ 65 years more than 6 months after vaccination, during the summer 2024 period of increased SARS-CoV-2 activity.
Keywords: COVID‐19; XBB.1.5; electronic health records; vaccine effectiveness.
. 2025 Dec;19(12):e70198.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70198. Effectiveness of the 2023 Autumn XBB.1.5 COVID-19 Booster During Summer 2024 in the EU/EEA: A VEBIS Electronic Health Record Network Study
James Humphreys[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nathalie Nicolay[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Toon Braeye[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Izaak Van Evercooren[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Christian Holm Hansen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ida Rask Moustsen-Helms[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Chiara Sacco[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Massimo Fabiani[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jesús Castilla[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Iván Martínez-Baz[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Ausenda Machado[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Patricia Soares[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Rickard Ljung[SUP] 10 11 [/SUP], Nicklas Pihlström[SUP] 10 11 [/SUP], Esther Kissling[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anthony Nardone[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susana Monge[SUP] 12 13 [/SUP], Sabrina Bacci[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Baltazar Nunes[SUP] 1 [/SUP]; VEBIS‐EHR working group
Collaborators, Affiliations
- PMID: 41312816
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.70198
Background: After a period of low SARS-CoV-2 activity, viral circulation increased in Europe from May 2024, driven by immune-evasive KP sublineages of the JN.1 variant. We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the XBB.1.5 dose administered in autumn 2023 against COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths in individuals 65 years of age or older during this period.
Methods: We conducted a multi-country cohort study across six EU nations in the VEBIS-EHR network using linked electronic health records. VE against COVID-19-related hospitalisation and death during June-August 2024 was estimated using Cox regression in a two-stage analysis, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities and prior vaccination history.
Results: Among individuals 65-79 and ≥ 80 years old, respectively, VE of the XBB.1.5 dose ≥ 6 months post administration was 13% (95% CI: -12% to 33%) and 7% (95% CI: -7% to 19%) against hospitalisation and 39% (95% CI: -7% to 65%) and 3% (95% CI: -23% to 23%) against deaths.
Conclusions: XBB.1.5 vaccination provided minimal residual protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes among adults aged ≥ 65 years more than 6 months after vaccination, during the summer 2024 period of increased SARS-CoV-2 activity.
Keywords: COVID‐19; XBB.1.5; electronic health records; vaccine effectiveness.