Fact Check: Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Fact Check: "Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19"

What We Know

Vaccination against COVID-19 has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. According to the CDC, the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of critical illness (such as admission to intensive care units or death) by nearly 70% in the first two months after vaccination. This protection, however, wanes over time, decreasing to about 50% after ten months. Furthermore, the vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalization by approximately 50% in the initial months, with a decrease to around 30% after ten months.

Additionally, studies indicate that vaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19 are less likely to experience severe outcomes compared to unvaccinated individuals. For instance, maternal vaccination has been shown to protect infants from severe health outcomes related to COVID-19, reducing hospitalization rates by around 54% among infants during their first three months of life (CDC) [source-2].

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is robust and comes from multiple credible sources. The CDC is a leading public health institution, and its data is based on extensive research and clinical trials. The statistics provided indicate a clear correlation between vaccination and reduced severity of illness, which aligns with findings from other studies, including those published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Nature and PubMed).

Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) also supports the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and death, reinforcing the credibility of the claim (WHO). The consistency of these findings across various studies and health organizations lends strong support to the assertion that vaccination is effective in reducing the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

While some studies indicate that vaccine effectiveness may decrease over time, the initial protection offered is substantial. The CDC notes that even after the waning of immunity, vaccinated individuals still have a significantly lower risk of severe outcomes compared to those who are unvaccinated.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is supported by a substantial body of evidence from reputable health organizations and scientific studies. Vaccines have been shown to significantly lower the risk of critical illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly in the initial months following vaccination. Although the effectiveness may decrease over time, the overall benefits of vaccination in preventing severe outcomes remain clear.

Sources

1. Benefits of Getting Vaccinated | COVID-19
2. PDF Evidence to Recommendations (partial) for 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccination
3. Interim Estimates of 2024–2025 COVID-19 Vaccine
4. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2
5. Vaccination against COVID-19 and Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19
6. COVID-19 - Global Situation
7. Updated COVID vaccine reduces risk of severe illness and death