Dr Alexandre Blake (EpiConcept, France) presented a multicentre retrospective cohort study of electronic health records from Denmark, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (Navarre) [1]. The analysis covered country-specific vaccinations administered between 2023 and 2024, with a 12-month follow-up. Immunocompromising conditions in the study included active cancers, transplant, immunodeficiency, and immunosuppressive treatment, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Vaccination effectiveness was calculated based on COVID-19-related hospitalisation and death.
The cohort included 1,605,508 immunocompromised individuals. In the ≥65 years subgroup, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was 55.7% at days 14-59 following vaccination, but waned continuously over time, reaching close to 0% after 180 days. However, in the 18-64 age group, very few hospitalisation events were detected, resulting in an imprecise estimate of effectiveness, close to 0%. Similar results were observed for vaccine effectiveness against death, with 71.7% efficacy after 14-59 days, but this decreased rapidly and reached -9.2% after 180 days (due to statistical imprecision).
The authors concluded that “XBB.1.5 adapted vaccines conferred strong short-term protection against severe COVID-19-related infection leading to death and moderate protection against hospitalisation among immunocompromised persons aged ≥65 years, but this protection rapidly declined over time. Initial protection in this group was comparable to that observed in non-immunocompromised individuals in the ≥65 years group who received XBB.1.5-adapted vaccines.”
- Blake A, et al. Effectiveness of XBB.1.5. COVID-19 vaccine received as a 2023-24 autumn dose among immunocompromised persons in the EU/EEA, a VEBIS (Vaccine Effectiveness, Burden and Impact Studies) Electronic Health Record network study. 6th ESCMID Vaccines, 10–13 September 2025, Lisbon, Portugal.
Copyright ©2025 Medicom Publishing Group
Posted on
Table of Contents: ESCMID Vaccines 2025
Featured articles
Real-world data confirm PCV20 effectiveness against pneumococcal disease in adults aged ≥65 years
RSV vaccination and Immunisation
Combination respiratory vaccines show promise but face key challenges
Adjuvanted RSVPreF3 demonstrates high real-world effectiveness in the USA
RSV immunisation: Maternal versus direct infant immunisation
European pregnant women show openness to maternal RSV vaccination
Infants immunised with nirsevimab have a lower risk of respiratory-related recurrent hospitalisation
Adjuvanted RSVPreF3 can be co-administered with a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in adults aged ≥50 years
Other Childhood and Routine Vaccinations
Pertussis vaccination: Could an intranasal vaccine help curb the rising cases of whooping cough?
Does the 2+1 vaccination schedule for Haemophilus influenzae type b increase case numbers?
Wastewater poliovirus detections in Europe may reflect seasonal infection patterns rather than consistent importation
Emerging and Future Vaccines
Where do we stand with vaccination for haemolytic streptococci?
The future looks promising for tuberculosis vaccination
Where do alternative vaccine administration routes fit in the clinical landscape?
Malaria immunisation beyond subunit vaccines: Current progress
SARI Definitions and Vaccine Effectiveness
Case definition discrepancies influence VE outcomes
Pneumococcal Vaccination
A quarter of US children have incomplete pneumococcal vaccination by age 2
V116 shows promise for adults at risk of pneumococcal disease
Real-world data confirm PCV20 effectiveness against pneumococcal disease in adults aged ≥65 years
The V116 pneumococcal vaccine is a new option in children at risk for pneumococcal disease
Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination
Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccination provides effective, but rapidly waning protection in immunocompromised individuals
Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine shows promising results in preclinical mouse models
Influenza vaccine in children shows moderate, broad protection during the 2024-2025 season
Lower age is linked to reduced uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccination
site created by:
© 2024 Medicom Medical Publishers. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
HEAD OFFICE
Laarderhoogtweg 25
1101 EB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T: +31 85 4012 560
E: publishers@medicom-publishers.com