Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) Vaccine Effectiveness against Symptomatic Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Infection among Outpatients in Sentinel Sites, Lebanon, July-December 2021

Authors

Lina Chaito, Pawel Stefanoff, Joaquin Baruch, Zeina Farah, Mona Albuaini, Nada Ghosn

Reference

Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) Vaccine Effectiveness against Symptomatic Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Infection among Outpatients in Sentinel Sites, Lebanon, July-December 2021. Vaccines (Basel) 2024 Aug 23; 12(9): 954.

The article examined the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Lebanon, during the first deployment of mass vaccinations in the course of the pandemic. The study found that the vaccine was moderately effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 among adults aged 50 and older. Specifically, those who were fully vaccinated had a 44% reduced risk of symptomatic infection, while those partially vaccinated had a 22% reduced risk. The study highlighted the importance of full vaccination and continued public health measures to protect against COVID-19.

The study was coordinated by Lina, a fellow of the training programme MediPIET based in Lebanon. Despite its limitations the study was one of the first attempts to monitor vaccine effectiveness in Lebanon, and Lina did an amazing job.