While the COVID-19 pandemic has been declared over, the effects of COVID-19 are still felt across the United States. Fortunately, recent research reinforces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, showing that the 2025–2026 vaccine reduced emergency room and urgent care visits by 50% and hospitalizations by 55%.
While the virus continues to mutate, this research is crucial. It shows that updated vaccines can still provide meaningful protection against severe illness.
What Were the Covid-19 Vaccine Findings?
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed nearly 90,000 visits to emergency rooms and urgent care centers. Additionally, researchers reviewed more than 26,000 hospitalizations. These cases included adults aged 18 and older who had symptoms similar to COVID-19.
The study did not include immunocompromised participants. This helped researchers create a clearer baseline for measuring vaccine effectiveness among the general adult population.
To get a comprehensive national view, researchers used a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention network spanning seven states. This network included more than 250 emergency departments and urgent care centers, as well as nearly 180 hospitals.
While this data aligns with previous research showing vaccine effectiveness, these recent findings also came under scrutiny. The findings were originally slated for CDC publication in April but were later rejected for methodological reasons.
However, the research used a test-negative design, a common method for evaluating vaccine effectiveness. In this approach, researchers include patients who sought medical care for similar symptoms. Then, they compare which patients tested positive for COVID-19 and which had been vaccinated.
This method can help researchers estimate how well vaccines prevent medically attended illness. In this case, the results showed strong protection against both emergency care and hospitalization.
Why Are COVID-19 Vaccines So Important?
Though COVID-19 continues mutating and spreading, a possible summer spike seems to have largely been averted. During summer months, many people spend more time indoors near air conditioning units. As a result, recent years have shown jumps in cases during July and August.
However, COVID-19 caseloads remain substantial. The study estimated around 400,000 to 550,000 infections in the United States between late 2024 and late 2025. In these cases, around 40% of hospitalizations occurred among patients aged 65 and older.
The study also corroborated findings from other recent research published in JAMA Network Open. In that study, COVID-19 vaccination prevented infections severe enough to require medical care by nearly 60% among older adults who had been vaccinated one to two months earlier.
Still, both studies showed low COVID-19 vaccine uptake. In the CDC-linked study, only 11% of patients had received a 2025–2026 booster. In the other study, just 6% of individuals infected with COVID-19 had been vaccinated.
Together, these figures show the continued need for improved trust and higher vaccination rates. While COVID-19 vaccines remain effective, they can only help those who choose to receive them.
For many patients, especially older adults, updated vaccination remains one of the clearest ways to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19.
Conclusion
Recent research shows COVID-19 vaccines still prevent severe illness. Updated boosters reduced emergency visits and hospitalizations among adults. Older adults especially benefit, but vaccination rates remain worryingly low.
Have an upcoming trip? Passport Health offers a wide variety of options to help keep you safe from disease, including vaccines. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.
Logan Hamilton is a health and wellness freelance writer for hire. He’s passionate about crafting crystal-clear, captivating, and credible content that elevates brands and establishes trust. When not writing, Logan can be found hiking, sticking his nose in bizarre books, or playing drums in a local rock band. Find him at loganjameshamilton.com.
