Meaning This study found that 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines were associated with additional protection against medically attended COVID-19 beyond individuals’ existing immunity, suggesting that adults can reduce their likelihood of severe COVID-19–associated outcomes by obtaining a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccination.

Editorial on the study methodology:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2850669

The study drew attention in April 2026 when the Washington Post reported it was delayed and then subsequently rejected from the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).2 The decision drew attention because MMWR has historically served as a mechanism for rapid dissemination of public health findings, such as routine vaccine effectiveness estimates from CDC-funded surveillance networks. Despite the fact that the VISION network was established by the CDC to support timely vaccine effectiveness monitoring, the study’s design has now come under scrutiny.