Publication date: Jul 18, 2025
In February 2022, NVX-CoV2373 became available in South Korea; real-world effectiveness of multiple doses compared with mRNA-based vaccines has not been thoroughly evaluated. This retrospective study identified NVX-CoV2373 and BNT162b2 recipients aged ≥12 years from the K-COV-N database. Vaccine groups were propensity score-matched based on demographic characteristics, Seoul capital area residence, income level, comorbidity/disability, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and prior vaccination dose/timing. Outcomes were any and severe (intensive-care-unit admission or death within 8 weeks of infection) laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection assessed from 7 days after the third and fourth dose. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) from matched groups measured vaccine effectiveness up to a 180-day risk window. From February to December 2022, 923,833 NVX-CoV2373 and 1,286,604 BNT162b2 doses were administered. The 180-day risk-window aHRs (95% CI) for NVX-CoV2373 compared with BNT162b2 for any SARS-CoV-2 infection were 0. 78 (0. 76-0. 79) post third dose and 0. 86 (0. 86-0. 87) post fourth dose. The 180-day aHRs (95% CI) for severe infection were 0. 73 (0. 53-1. 00) after the third dose and 1. 21 (1. 03-1. 42) after the fourth dose. NVX-CoV2373 demonstrated favorable and similar effectiveness against any and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively, compared with BNT162b2, with evidence of enhanced NVX-CoV2373 durability.
Open Access PDF
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| December | Adjuvant |
| Seoul | COVID-19 vaccines |
| Vaccine | Heterologous |
| mRNA vaccines | |
| NVX-CoV2373 | |
| Protein-based vaccine | |
| SARS-CoV-2 infection | |
| Seasonal vaccination | |
| Vaccine effectiveness |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | comorbidity |
| pathway | REACTOME | SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| disease | MESH | death |
| disease | MESH | infection |
| disease | MESH | Allergy |
| disease | IDO | protein |
| disease | IDO | ribonucleic acid |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| disease | IDO | country |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Cysteamine |
| disease | MESH | cause of death |
| disease | IDO | symptom |
| disease | IDO | history |
| disease | IDO | algorithm |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Isoxaflutole |
| disease | MESH | breakthrough infections |
| disease | MESH | Infectious Diseases |
| disease | MESH | emergencies |
| disease | MESH | viral diseases |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate |