Data & evidence

Vaccination

Vaccination still works and still matters — but uptake is very low, and strategy needs to be clear.

In brief: does COVID-19 vaccination still provide protection?

Yes. Current European evidence indicates that vaccination continues to reduce symptomatic disease, hospitalisation and death. Protection wanes over time, making clear and regular vaccination strategies particularly important for higher-risk groups.

Vaccination continues to deliver meaningful protection

During the 2024–2025 respiratory-virus season in Europe, COVID-19 vaccines were around 66% effective overall at preventing medically attended symptomatic COVID-19 (Laniece Delaunay et al., 2025). Protection was highest shortly after vaccination (around 73%) and declined over time (to around 54%), with similar effectiveness among older adults, who remain at higher risk.

European monitoring shows that annual vaccination restores protection against hospitalisation and death, but that protection wanes over time — underlining the importance of regular vaccination for higher-risk groups (ECDC, Interim Analysis 2024).

Clear strategy matters for tackling low uptake

Using different variant targets within the same season risks confusing healthcare professionals and the public, particularly when differences are subtle and not linked to clear outcome benefits (Sharff et al., 2025).

This matters in a context of very low routine uptake: during the 2024–2025 season, only around 7–9% of adults aged ≥60 received an annual COVID-19 vaccine in Europe (ECDC 2025). Clear, consistent strategies that emphasise protection against severe disease — rather than technical differences between variants — are likely to be critical for confidence and coverage.

Sources

  1. Laniece Delaunay C, et al. COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Medically Attended Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Target Groups in Europe, Oct 2024–Jan 2025, VEBIS Primary Care Network. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. 2025;19(11):e70120.
  2. ECDC. Interim analysis of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation and death, eight European countries, Apr 2022–Jul 2023: first update. Stockholm: ECDC; 2024. DOI:10.2900/78799.
  3. Sharff KA, Haslam A, Nealon J. COVID-19 vaccine variant target: how should we choose? Vaccine. 2025;68:127917.
  4. ECDC. COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA during the 2024–25 season campaigns. Stockholm: ECDC; 2025. DOI:10.2900/2239152.

Coverage figures: 12 of 21 countries report data for Aug 2024–Feb 2025; some report different periods, and in some countries the vaccine was recommended only for people aged ≥65.

Figures and citations migrated verbatim from the CTI evidence pages; interactive charts can be added at implementation.

Editorial responsibility: COVID Transition Initiative group members. Named scientific reviewer and review date: content required from Fourtold before publication.

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