New Study Shows Vaccines Help Reduce Long-Term Complications

  • Risk of developing long Covid has decreased since the start of the pandemic
  • 10% risk with original strain, 3.5% for vaccinated people with Omicron variant, and 7.7% for unvaccinated individuals
  • Researchers analyzed data from the Veterans Affairs health system
  • Wastewater testing shows high levels of Covid nationally
  • Covid-19 test positivity rates were 11% in the week ending July 6
  • Emergency department visits are increasing, but hospitalizations and deaths remain low
  • Vaccines reduce severity of illness and help immune system clear virus faster
  • Study has limitations due to demographic focus on older white men
  • Long Covid affects women more than men, demand for treatment remains high

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that the risk of developing long Covid has decreased since the start of the pandemic, particularly for vaccinated individuals. Researchers analyzed data from the Veterans Affairs health system and found that about 10% of people infected with the original strain developed long Covid, while the risk dropped to 3.5% with the Omicron variant among vaccinated people and 7.7% for unvaccinated individuals. The study determined that 70% of this decline is due to vaccination and 30% due to changes in the virus itself. Wastewater testing shows high levels of Covid nationally, with a test positivity rate of 11% in the week ending July 6. Although hospitalizations and deaths remain low, emergency department visits are on the rise. Vaccines help reduce severity of illness and clear the virus faster, but may not be fully protective against long-term health problems.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the decreased risk of long Covid due to vaccination and changes in the virus itself. It cites a study from the New England Journal of Medicine and includes expert opinions from Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly and Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez. However, it does mention some limitations of the VA research, such as its focus on older, white men population.
Noise Level: 4
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the decreased risk of long Covid with the Omicron variant and vaccination, citing a study from the New England Journal of Medicine. It also discusses the current uptick in Covid cases driven by Omicron subvariants and the importance of vaccines in reducing the risk of long-term health problems. However, it could have included more information on the potential limitations or uncertainties of the study and provided a broader perspective on the ongoing pandemic situation.
Key People: Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly (Chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis), Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez (Professor and chair of the department of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and director of its long Covid clinic)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses a study on the risk of developing long Covid and its reduction due to vaccination, which does not have a direct impact on financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article. The focus is on the decrease in long Covid risk due to vaccination and changes in the virus itself.

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com