Are Covid Shots Working? What the Real World Tells Us: QuickTake

With Covid-19 shots in <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"QX11TVDWX2PS","_id":"0000017b-0071-d19f-a5fb-f1f9cfc20000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">billions of arms by now, evidence is emerging of how well they work in real-world settings. Vaccines authorized for emergency use have successfully subdued epidemics in nations where at least half of the population is fully immunized. But as more-transmissible <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"QVY7FVT0AFB4","_id":"0000017b-0071-d19f-a5fb-f1f9cfc20001","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">variants spread, driving fresh outbreaks and an increase in <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"QWHWFADWX2PS","_id":"0000017b-0071-d19f-a5fb-f1f9cfc20002","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">breakthrough infections, health authorities are recommending some immunized individuals wear <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"QWX7OET0AFBA","_id":"0000017b-0071-d19f-a5fb-f1f9cfc20003","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">face-masks indoors to augment the protection of vaccines.

1. How good are Covid vaccines?

In general, the Covid shots are <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"QTI1UQT0G1KZ","_id":"0000017b-0071-d19f-a5fb-f1f9cfc50000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">extremely good, though not perfect, at protecting against hospitalization and death. Researchers in Taiwan ...