mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines do not improve overall mortality

To examine the possible non-specific effects of the novel COVID-19 vaccines, the authors of this study (to be published in Lancet) reviewed the randomized control trials (RCTs) of mRNA and adenovirus-vector COVID-19 vaccines reporting overall mortality, including COVID-19 deaths, accident deaths, cardiovascular deaths and other non-COVID-19 deaths. For overall mortality, with 74,193 participants and 61 deaths (mRNA:31; placebo:30), the relative risk (RR) for the two mRNA vaccines compared with placebo was 1.03 (95% CI=0.63-1.71). 

There is now ample evidence that vaccines can not only add protection but also increase susceptibility to unrelated infections or even other non-infectious immune mediated diseases. 

Analysis of the final study reports from vaccine clinical trials found the vaccines had no effect on overall mortality. Among 74,000 trial participants, at 6 months follow-up, there were 31 all-cause deaths among the vaccinated (n=37,110) and 30 among the placebo groups (n=37,083).


Based on these data, mRNA vaccines had no effect on overall mortality despite protecting against fatal COVID-19. 

Besides, protective associations between prior vaccination and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection were marked in those younger than 60 but not in the elderly.<60 associations="" in="" no="" observed="" robust="" span="" those="" were="" whereas="" years-old.="" years-old="">

Since the clinical trials were mainly conducted on healthy adults, we need additional study for general population as the vaccines might have induced a better mortality result in older and less healthy individuals.



REFERENCES

Benn, Christine Stabell and Schaltz-Buchholzer, Frederik and Nielsen, Sebastian and Netea, Mihai G. and Netea, Mihai G. and Aaby, Peter, Randomised Clinical Trials of COVID-19 Vaccines: Do Adenovirus-Vector Vaccines Have Beneficial Non-Specific Effects?. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4072489 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4072489

Randomised Clinical Trials of COVID-19 Vaccines: Do Adenovirus-Vector Vaccines Have Beneficial Non-Specific Effects? by Christine Stabell Benn, Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, Sebastian Nielsen, Mihai G. Netea, Peter Aaby :: SSRN

Thomas SJ, Moreira ED, Jr., Kitchin N, et al. Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine through 6 Months. N Engl J Med 2021; 385(19): 1761-73

El Sahly HM, Baden LR, Essink B, et al. Efficacy of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at Completion of Blinded Phase. N Engl J Med 2021; 385(19): 1774-85 

Taquet M, Dercon Q, Harrison PJ. Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2022 Apr 18.


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