COVID-19 Vaccines Save 2.5 Million Lives Globally, Study Finds

Recent studies and assessments reaffirm the significant impact and safety of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Pfizer is conducting an ongoing observational study to evaluate the effectiveness of its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, particularly the XBB booster dose, in preventing post-COVID conditions across different demographics, with results expected by August 2025. Independent evaluations, such as the ECRI report, confirm that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women and their infants, supporting prior CDC guidance. Modeling studies estimate that COVID-19 vaccination saved approximately 2.5 million lives worldwide between 2020 and 2024, with the greatest benefit seen among individuals aged 60 and older, and an estimated 14.8 million life-years saved. These findings highlight the critical role of vaccination in reducing mortality and severe outcomes, especially among high-risk populations, reinforcing the importance of continued vaccine uptake and public health efforts.