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“This is a very effective vaccine. I would say these are amazing results,” said Dr. Jonas Bačelis.
He highlighted that the vaccine was more effective in young people and in those who had recently been vaccinated (more than 90%).
Due to hospitalization, the vaccine is 83-92 percent effective. Unvaccinated people are ten times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than vaccinated people.
The effectiveness of Pfizer vaccines also decreases over time, explained J. Bačelis. “The effectiveness of vaccines is around 90 percent. This means that vaccinated people are 10 times less likely to be in the COVID-19 unit of the hospital,” said the specialist.
Effectiveness from death: 95 percent.
At that time, the effectiveness of vaccines was 95% in terms of risk of death from the COVID-19 disease. This means that vaccinated people have a 20 times lower risk of dying from a coronavirus infection.
J.Bacelis emphasized that immunosuppressed people were not excluded from this cohort. Therefore, the actual effectiveness of vaccines for people in good health should be even higher.
“Immunosuppressed people are in this cohort and they are dragging those results down.” In other words, it is estimated at 95 percent. efficiency is even higher.
For an ordinary person who walks down the street, he did not have a kidney transplant a month ago, he does not have a cancerous condition, that efficiency is even higher ”, explained the statistical analyst.
A.Žvirblienė: research clearly answers the question that vaccines really work
Professor Aurelija Žvirblienė from the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center pointed out that this research is extremely important, because Lithuania did not have such data before, so scientists were forced to rely on the experience of foreign countries.
“It’s just research, not just dry statistics. The advantage is that this is the Lithuanian population and we all differ slightly from the population of other countries – there are both ethnic composition and certain genetic differences that determine our immune response, as well as – pandemics, epidemiological situation, which differs in each country, explained A.Žvirblienė.
The professor emphasized that research conducted in Lithuania would ultimately help to disprove speculation that COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective.
During the study, more than 440 thousand. people who were randomly selected out of a total of 221 thousand. matched pairs, data. According to A.Žvirblienė, because the study sample was very large, it allows obtaining statistically reliable data.
“When it comes to the number of hospitalizations and deaths, there are no questions here; this is a very accurate comparison. This clearly answers the question of whether vaccines work. Yes, it is precisely this vaccine that works and is very effective, because that protection is very high, from hospitalization to death ”, assured the immunologist.
Unvaccinated people are very sick.
Ligita Jančorienė, director of the Santara Clinics Center for Infectious Diseases, provided data that in August almost all patients treated for resuscitation had not been vaccinated.
“Looking at the patients treated in August, we see that the average age was 61 years. There were up to 33 percent of those under 50 and 15 percent over 70. But the most important message is that 85 percent were not vaccinated and another 11 percent were partially vaccinated. Only one patient was vaccinated, “commented L. Jančorienė.
“We see that when we evaluate comorbidities, 33 percent had severe comorbidities, 37 percent had no comorbidities and 63 percent had at least one comorbidity, more than half of the patients treated in resuscitation,” said a spokeswoman for Santara Clinics.
According to her, 30 percent of the patients died during resuscitation in August. Of all COVID-19 hospitalizations, 102 were unvaccinated, 8 were vaccinated with a single dose of vaccine, and 21 were fully vaccinated.
“If we look at the data for this week, the numbers have really increased, the number of visitors in the last three or four days has doubled,” said L. Jančorienė.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Aušra Bilotienė Motiejūnienė, said that unvaccinated patients are very sick.
“We still see that efficiency, and today I can only point out that we have over 800 inpatient beds occupied, which means a lot of people are sick enough.” More than 80 patients are in severe resuscitation. We see that the vaccine works ”, said the vice minister.
According to her, the Ministry will continue to expand vaccination opportunities.
“If we take Sweden or other countries as an example, then they have a larger group mostly vaccinated with more than 80 percent or even 100 percent, then today SAM has a pilot project with which medical staff reaches out to residents. from the Trakai district together. With the postman, that is, we have a vaccination option at home. We will also start with family doctors when they can invite residents to get vaccinated, “explained the deputy minister.
A.Bilotienė-Motiejūnienė noted that other patients cannot wait several more months for scheduled services. “Today, thanks to us, it can be said that the risks have not always been evaluated, we must do everything possible to direct all human resources when a vaccine is available and available,” said A. Bilotienė-Motiejūnienė.
About the research methodology
During the study, two population groups were formed: one fully vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer and the other not vaccinated at all. These two groups are paired by seven factors. The so-called “cohort composed of couples” was used.
“If we have a person who was born in a certain year, is dedicated to a certain profession, is of a certain gender, we have found a twin for him, not in a biological sense but in a metaphorical sense. A person who was born in the same year, did the same job, is from a city / town, married / single, etc. ”, Explained J.Bačelis the methodology.
The Pfizer vaccine was chosen for the study because it has been vaccinated in the majority of people in Lithuania. A larger sample, according to the specialist, allows more reliable results to be expected.
The study will continue and it is planned to analyze not only the efficacy of the vaccines but also the side effects.
