Is the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine effective in elderly populations? Results from population data from Bavaria, Germany

• Published in: PloS one 2021-11, Vol.16 (11), p.e0259370-e0259370
• Main Authors: Gomes, Delphina, Beyerlein, Andreas, Katz, Katharina, Hoelscher, Gabriele, Nennstiel, Uta, Liebl, Bernhard, Überla, Klaus, von Kries, Rüdiger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biology and Life Sciences; Control; Epidemics; Germany; Health aspects; Medicine and Health Sciences; People and places
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259370

The efficacy of the BioNTech-Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly ([greater than or equal to]80 years) could not be fully assessed in the BioNTech-Pfizer trial due to low numbers in this age group. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the BioNTech-Pfizer (BNT162b2) vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes in octo- and novo-generians in a German state setting. A prospective observational study of 708,187 persons aged [greater than or equal to]80 years living in Bavaria, Germany, was conducted between Jan 9 to Apr 11, 2021. We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) for two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine with respect to SARS-CoV-2 infection and related hospitalisations and mortality. Additionally, differences in VE by age groups [greater than or equal to]80 to [less than or equal to]89 years and [greater than or equal to]90 years were studied. Analyses were adjusted by sex. By the end of follow-up, 63.8% of the Bavarian population [greater than or equal to]80 years had received one dose, and 52.7% two doses, of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine lowered the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections and related outcomes, resulting in VE estimates of 68.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 65.5%, 70.9%) for infection, 73.2% (95% CI 65.3%, 79.3%) for hospitalisation, and 85.1% (95% CI 80.0%, 89.0%) for mortality. Sex differences in the risk of COVID-19 outcomes observed among unvaccinated persons disappeared after two BNT162b2 vaccine doses. Overall, the BNT162b2 vaccine was equally effective in octo- and novo-genarians. Two doses of BioNTech-Pfizer's BNT162b2 vaccine is highly effective against COVID-19 outcomes in elderly persons.