How effective are the approved mRNA vaccines?

In the studies for approval, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BionTech and Moderna demonstrated an effectiveness against infection with Covid-19 of over 90 percent.

However, against the Omicron variant of Covid-19, which currently dominates in Switzerland, the protective effect against infection appears to be reduced. In contrast, the mRNA vaccines still offer a high level of protection against a severe course of disease. This is true for all currently circulating variants of Covid-19, including Omicron. Accordingly, in recent months, vaccinated persons have had to be hospitalized significantly less often because of a Covid-19 infection than unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated persons (Link to the current data of the Federal Office for Public Health).

Protection from vaccination tends to decline over time. Especially in older persons. A booster vaccination helps to increase the effectiveness again. How long the protection of the booster vaccination lasts is currently unclear and is being continuously investigated.