The beginning of 2025 has been a productive publication period for id.DRIVE, with three peer-reviewed publications highlighting COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness across Europe. These results reinforce the id.DRIVE’s role in generating high-quality evidence to inform public health decisions.
- “Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization related to the JN.1 variant in Europe: a test-negative case-control study using the id.DRIVE platform”: published in February 2025 in the Vaccine X journal. This publication presents the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine in preventing hospitalisation due to COVID-19 among individuals aged 50 years and older. The findings confirmed sustained protection against severe outcomes during the Omicron-dominant period, underlining the continued public health value of mRNA vaccination in high-risk groups. Read the publication
- “Effectiveness of the AZD1222 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization in Europe: final results from the COVIDRIVE test-negative case–control study”: published on April 2025 in the European Journal of Public Health. This publication focused on the AstraZeneca (AZD1222) vaccine, presenting real-world evidence of its effectiveness against COVID-19-related hospitalisation in older adults. The results, based on multi-country data, demonstrated moderate and sustained protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation up to at least 6 months after the last dose with a two-dose primary series AZD1222 vaccination, during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron period. Read the article
- “Vaccine effectiveness of JCOVDEN single-dose against COVID-19 hospitalisation in Europe: An id.DRIVE test-negative case-control study”: published on May 2025 in The Lancet eClinicalMedicinejournal. The latest publication assessed the Janssen (JCovden, Ad26.COV2.S) vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes. The study highlighted meaningful protection in vaccinated individuals: the JCOVDEN single-dose protected against COVID-19 hospitalisation. It is effective for at least six months, with VE estimates comparatively lower in the older age groups. Read the article
These three publications released in early 2025 reinforce the scientific relevance of the id.DRIVE initiative and demonstrate the power of public-private collaboration in delivering timely and impactful public health research.