Vaccine gives good protection, first real-world UK study shows

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provides high levels of protection, analysis of healthcare workers who had the jab found.

Data from the SIREN study found one dose reduces the risk of catching infection by more than 70%, rising to 85% after the second.

This suggests the vaccine may also help to interrupt virus transmission, as people cannot spread the virus if they do not have the infection.

It is the first independent analysis in the UK showing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective from the first dose.

Healthcare workers in the study are tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) every two weeks, whether or not they have symptoms.

More than 300 NHS staff at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust volunteered to take part.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, which ran the study, said: “This is strong evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is stopping people from getting infected, while also protecting cases against hospitalisation and death.

“We will see much more data over the coming weeks and months but we should be very encouraged by these initial findings.”

Read more on the Government website.