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Yes, there is extensive independent evidence showing that COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of death and severe illness. This conclusion comes from numerous studies conducted by governments, health organizations, and independent academic researchers worldwide. Here are some examples:
1. Government Data
• United Kingdom: Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) consistently demonstrated lower mortality rates among vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals, even during waves of variants like Delta and Omicron. Vaccines were shown to reduce the risk of death by over 90% in fully vaccinated individuals against earlier variants.
• United States: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that unvaccinated individuals were 10–20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were fully vaccinated, based on surveillance data from across the U.S.
• Israel: Studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the Delta wave found that vaccinated individuals had a 93% lower risk of death compared to those who were unvaccinated.
2. Academic Research
• The Lancet (2021): Published meta-analyses showing vaccines were highly effective at preventing severe disease and death across all approved brands, even in elderly populations.
• New England Journal of Medicine (2022): Found that booster doses provided additional protection against mortality during the Omicron wave, particularly in vulnerable groups like the elderly and immunocompromised.
• Oxford University Study (2022): Showed that vaccinated individuals were significantly less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals, with effectiveness remaining high even after accounting for age, underlying health conditions, and socio-economic factors.
3. Real-World Observational Evidence
• World Health Organization (WHO): Estimated that COVID-19 vaccines saved between 19–20 million lives worldwide in 2021 alone, based on modeling studies.
• Excess Mortality Studies: Countries with high vaccination rates consistently showed lower excess mortality rates during COVID-19 waves compared to countries with low vaccination rates.
• Case Studies: Countries like Portugal and New Zealand, which achieved high vaccination coverage early, experienced significantly lower death rates compared to countries with lower coverage.
4. Variant-Specific Data
• While vaccine effectiveness against mild infection has waned with variants like Omicron, protection against severe disease and death remains robust, especially with booster doses.