In an Arthritis & Rheumatology analysis of data on 60,980 US adults with autoimmune rheumatic conditions who developed COVID-19 between December 2020 and August 2024, those who received booster or updated (2023-2024) COVID-19 vaccines were less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to those who received only the initial series vaccines or who were unvaccinated.

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Compared with no vaccination, completion of the initial series, booster vaccination, and updated vaccination were associated with 41%, 71%, and 69% lower adjusted odds of COVID-19-related hospitalization, respectively. Among patients who had received only the initial vaccine series versus booster/updated vaccine, the absolute risk reduction was 5.6%.

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“Our findings provide important real-world evidence that updated vaccines continue to offer substantial protection in this medically vulnerable population,” said corresponding author Maria I. Danila, MD, MSc, MSPH, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“These results underscore the need for continued efforts by clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups to help ensure that these patients remain current with updated COVID-19 vaccines,” added first author Lesley E. Jackson, MD, MSPH, also of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

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