Early Estimates of Updated 2023–2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Attributable to Co-Circulating Omicron Variants Among Immunocompetent Adults — Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, September 2023–January 2024

Abstract

On September 12, 2023, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended updated 2023–2024 (updated) COVID-19 vaccination with a monovalent XBB.1.5–derived vaccine for all persons aged ≥6 months to prevent COVID-19, including severe disease. During fall 2023, XBB lineages co-circulated with JN.1, an Omicron BA.2.86 lineage that emerged in September 2023. These variants have amino acid substitutions that might increase escape from neutralizing antibodies. XBB lineages predominated through December 2023, when JN.1 became predominant in the United States. Reduction or failure of spike gene (S-gene) amplification (i.e., S-gene target failure [SGTF]) in real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction testing is a time-dependent, proxy indicator of JN.1 infection. Data from the Increasing Community Access to Testing SARS-CoV-2 pharmacy testing program were analyzed to estimate updated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) (i.e., receipt versus no receipt of updated vaccination) against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, including by SGTF result. Among 9,222 total eligible tests, overall VE among adults aged ≥18 years was 54% (95% CI = 46%–60%) at a median of 52 days after vaccination. Among 2,199 tests performed at a laboratory with SGTF testing, VE 60–119 days after vaccination was 49% (95% CI = 19%–68%) among tests exhibiting SGTF and 60% (95% CI = 35%–75%) among tests without SGTF. Updated COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against symptomatic infection, including against currently circulating lineages. CDC will continue monitoring VE, including for expected waning and against severe disease. All persons aged ≥6 months should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Introduction

On September 12, 2023, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that all persons aged ≥6 months receive the updated 2023–2024 (updated) monovalent COVID-19 vaccine (1). Most persons aged ≥5 years are recommended to receive 1 updated dose. These vaccines contain a component from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.5 lineage and unlike previous COVID-19 vaccines, do not contain the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain. During the period of analysis, XBB lineages predominated early, many with evolutionarily advantageous amino acid changes in the spike gene (S-gene). In September 2023, the divergent JN.1 lineage was detected in the United States. JN.1 has more than 30 mutations in the spike protein compared with XBB.1.5, including a change (L455S) similar to one found in circulating XBB lineages (L455F).* JN.1 accounted for 69% (range = 65%–73%) of SARS-CoV-2 infections nationally by the 2-week period ending January 6, 2024.^† Results of spike gene (S-gene) amplification in real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used to distinguish certain SARS-CoV-2 lineages over time (2). Detection of S-gene target presence (SGTP) by a widely used commercial test was noted in most lineages that circulated in 2023, including XBB lineages,^§ whereas S-gene target failure (SGTF), resulting from a mutation in the S-gene, is detected in JN.1 and other BA.2.86 lineages.^¶ Vaccine effectiveness (VE) of receipt of updated COVID-19 vaccine in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed in adults aged ≥18 years, by time since dose and by SGTF and SGTP as a proxy for likely JN.1 versus other lineages. Whereas the goal of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program is to prevent severe disease, VE against symptomatic infection can provide useful insights into protection early after introduction of updated vaccines and during the emergence of new lineages, such as JN.1.

Methods

Overall Assessment of VE

Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) is a CDC program that provides access to no-cost SARS-CoV-2 testing at pharmacies nationwide to persons who are uninsured,** prioritizing socially vulnerable areas.^†† ICATT VE methods have been described^§§ (3). Tests conducted at participating CVS Pharmacy and Walgreen Co. (Walgreens) locations during September 21, 2023–January 14, 2024, among adults who reported ≥1 symptom of COVID-19 were included in the test-negative design study. For the full analysis, case-patients were persons who received a positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) result; control patients were those who received a negative NAAT result. Tests among persons fulfilling any of the following criteria were excluded from analyses: 1) self-reported immunocompromising condition^¶¶; 2) reported receipt of Novavax as the most recent dose and reported receipt of <2 total COVID-19 vaccine doses***; 3) reported receipt of a Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine dose after May 12, 2023^†††; 4) receipt of the most recent dose <7 days before the date of testing or during September 1–12, 2023; 5) receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine <2 months before date of testing for those who did not receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose; or 6) registration for testing with a version of the questionnaire that only reported month and year of the most recent vaccine dose rather than calendar date. In addition, tests from persons reporting receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result during the preceding 90 days^§§§ were excluded. Type of most recent vaccine dose (original monovalent, bivalent, or updated monovalent) was determined by the reported date of receipt of the dose.^¶¶¶

VE against symptomatic disease was calculated by comparing odds of receipt versus nonreceipt of the updated COVID-19 vaccine among case- and control patients. Secondary analyses examined alternative reference groups, including 1) receipt of a bivalent dose and 2) being either unvaccinated or having received only original COVID-19 vaccines. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression****; VE was calculated separately based on SGTF or SGTP status as (1 − OR) x 100%.

Analysis of VE by SGTF and Time Since Vaccination

A subanalysis of VE by SGTF status and time since last dose included RT-PCR tests performed by one pharmacy chain during October 27, 2023–January 12, 2024, and analyzed at a commercial laboratory that used the TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Quantitative results were reported as cycle threshold (Ct) values for each of three SARS-CoV-2 gene targets (S, N, and ORF1ab). Only specimens with Ct values available for both N and ORF1ab were included in the SGTF subanalysis. SARS-CoV-2–positive specimens with either null or reduced amplification of the S-gene (Ct for S-gene >4 cycles from the average of N and ORF1ab Ct values) were considered to have SGTF (2,4), an indication of a particular deletion in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which currently indicates an infection with BA.2.86, JN.1, and their sublineages. SARS-CoV-2–positive specimens without SGTF were considered to exhibit SGTP, which likely indicates infection with previously dominant XBB.1.5 lineages (Supplementary Figure; https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/145936).

For the SGTF and SGTP subanalysis, overall VE (regardless of time since dose) and VE during the 7–59 days after an updated dose were not calculated because the emergence of JN.1 parallels time since dose; statistical power for SGTF (likely JN.1) during the 7–59 days was therefore limited. Analyses were conducted using R software (version 4.1.2; R Foundation). This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.^††††

Results

Overall VE

Among 9,222 NAAT results for persons with COVID-19–like illness symptoms eligible for the full analysis, 3,295 (36%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Table 1). Among 1,125 persons who had received updated COVID-19 vaccine ≥7 days earlier, more control patients (844; 14%) reported having received the vaccine than did case-patients (281; 9%). Among those who received updated vaccine, the median interval since the last dose was 60 days (IQR = 32–79 days) for case-patients and 51 days (IQR = 28–73) for control patients. Among the 8,097 persons who reported that they had not received an updated vaccine dose, 2,435 (30%) were unvaccinated. Among the remaining 5,662 (70%) who were vaccinated but had not received an updated vaccine dose, the median interval since the last dose was 378 days (IQR = 321–413 days) for case-patients and 363 days (IQR = 254–402 days) for control patients. In the full analysis, VE for persons aged 18–49 years was 57% (95% CI = 48%–65%) and for persons aged ≥50 years was 46% (95% CI = 31%–58%) (Table 2). Overall VE was 58% (95% CI = 48%–65%) among those who received testing 7–59 days after receipt of updated vaccine and 49% (95% CI = 36%–58%) among those who received testing 60–119 days after receipt of updated vaccine.

VE by SGTF Status

In the subanalysis, 679 tests with S-gene target results from eligible persons were available, including 258 (38%) exhibiting SGTF (likely JN.1 lineages) and 421 (62%) with SGTP (likely non-JN.1 lineages) (Table 3). Because of recent emergence of JN.1 in the United States, VE was imprecise for tests with SGTF during the 7–59 days after receipt of updated vaccine. VE during the 60–119 days since receipt of updated vaccine was 49% (95% CI = 19%–68%) for tests with SGTF (median interval since dose = 80 days) and 60% (95% CI = 35%–75%) for tests with SGTP (median interval since dose = 73 days).

Secondary VE Analyses

Secondary analyses showed similar VE estimates for receipt of updated vaccine compared with those who previously received only original monovalent doses and those who received original monovalent and bivalent doses. (Supplementary Table; https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/145937).

Discussion

This report provides early estimates of effectiveness of updated monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and the first estimates of VE against symptomatic infection with the JN.1 lineage. These preliminary estimates from pharmacy testing conducted during September 2023–January 2024 showed updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccine provided protection for JN.1 and other circulating lineages.

VE against symptomatic infection provides helpful information about the range of protection provided by updated vaccines and against emerging lineages. An important strength of ICATT SARS-CoV-2 testing data is the ability to distinguish JN.1 from XBB lineages, allowing for comparison of VE during the same period after vaccination. Monitoring the potential impact on VE of JN.1 is critical because of the spike mutations in JN.1 (as compared with XBB lineages), which might be associated with increased immune escape^§§§§ (5). Recent laboratory data show that the updated vaccines elicit neutralizing antibodies against emerging XBB lineages and JN.1 (6). Although point estimates during the 60–119 days after vaccination were lower for SGTF than SGTP results in this analysis, CIs overlapped, indicating no statistically significant difference. These data provide reassurance that updated vaccines are providing protection against JN.1 and XBB lineages.

These early estimates include the period only through 119 days since vaccination, a relatively brief postvaccination period, with no substantial waning. Because consistent patterns of waning VE were observed after original monovalent and bivalent COVID-19 vaccination, waning of VE is expected with more time since updated vaccination, especially against less severe outcomes such as symptomatic infection. Additional analyses conducted at longer intervals since authorization of updated vaccines are needed for continued monitoring of expected waning and to determine how well vaccines are working to prevent severe disease.

Limitations

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, vaccination status, previous infection history, and underlying medical conditions were self-reported and might be subject to recall bias. Self-reported frequency of previous infections >90 days before testing differed by vaccination status and SGTF status, but statistical power was not adequate for stratification of results. Further, previous infection is likely underreported (7). Previous infection provides some protection against repeat infection (8) and U.S. adults have a high prevalence of infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 immunity.^¶¶¶¶ Thus, VE in this analysis reflects the current situation among U.S. adults and can be interpreted as the incremental benefit of receipt of updated COVID-19 vaccine beyond existing vaccination-induced, infection-induced, or hybrid immunity. Second, test registration questionnaires did not ask registrants about the number of updated vaccine doses received; therefore, the analysis might have included some persons who received >1 updated dose. Third, these estimates are derived from a population choosing to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 and are potentially subject to selection biases related to these factors. In addition, updated vaccination coverage to date has been low (approximately 22% as of January 13, 2024*****) among persons aged ≥18 years and varies by age, which could bias results if persons being vaccinated earlier are systematically different from those vaccinated later. Thus, residual confounding might be present and could affect these early estimates. Fourth, this analysis used a subset of data with SGTF status as a proxy for infection with a JN.1 lineage. Although SGTF identifies other BA.2.86 lineage viruses, JN.1 represents the majority of these and was the primary lineage increasing in proportion during the analytic period. Finally, this analysis did not control for time since receipt of the most recent dose before the updated dose; however, because of waning effectiveness of previous doses, particularly against symptomatic infection^{†††††} (9), this limitation likely had a minimal effect on results.

Implications for Public Health Practice

Updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines provided 54% (95% CI = 46–60%) protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in persons recently vaccinated compared with those who did not receive an updated vaccine dose. Vaccination provided protection for infections caused by JN.1 and infections caused by XBB-related lineages. Waning of effectiveness is expected with additional elapsed time since vaccination, especially against less severe disease. CDC will continue to monitor trends in VE. All persons aged ≥6 months should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including receiving a dose of updated vaccine.