By Jason Douglas and Max Colchester

LONDON--Vaccination against Covid-19 prevents infection and reduces hospitalizations and deaths even in those over 80, according to preliminary data from the U.K.'s fast-paced inoculation program.

The findings add to a growing body of international evidence that new vaccines provide significant if not complete protection against Covid-19, offering governments a route out of a pandemic that has claimed at least 2.5 million lives world-wide and sickened tens of millions.

The data from the U.K., published Monday, are preliminary and haven't been reviewed by other scientists.

England's public health agency said that one shot of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE led to a 57% reduction in cases of Covid-19 in people aged 80 or over, compared with what would have been expected had they not received a shot. This rose to 88% after a second dose.

Hospitalisation rates fell 41% 14 days after injection and the chance of dying from the disease was more than halved among those immunized.

A separate analysis of healthcare workers showed the vaccine reduced Covid-19 infections by 72% three weeks after one dose, rising to 86% after a second shot.

Write to Jason Douglas at jason.douglas@wsj.com and Max Colchester max.colchester@wsj.com 


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02-22-21 1045ET