“We still face a significant public health dilemma in that in an epoch where nearly everyone should have had at least 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, too many have received none,” authors of an opinion piece conclude. “The misperceptions of vaccine effectiveness driven by incomplete understanding of what vaccine effectiveness calculations currently estimate is directly harmful to the wellbeing of the unvaccinated and the general population. More precise communication and metrics of vaccine effectiveness that honestly reflect the value of vaccination is imperative. Our current vaccines are imperfect, and we look forward to seeing what improvements may occur with the next generation; however, it is undeniable that they are extremely effective against some of the most feared outcomes of COVID-19, and they are our most important tool for addressing its threat.”
