<p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/60338a82bed5c50011a2bc48-1479/GettyImages-1231101898.jpg" border="0" alt="Scotland Vaccine Inverness COVID coronavirus" data-mce-source="Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Paramedic Andrew Parker gives the vaccine to Elizabeth and Sandy Robertson inside a holiday coach outside Culloden Medical Practice near Inverness, Scotland, which is being used by the Scottish Ambulance Service as a mobile coronavirus vaccination centre. Picture date: Thursday February 11, 2021."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Both the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines were found to substantially reduce hospitalization from after a single jab, according to <a href="https://publichealthscotland.scot/news/2021/february/vaccine-linked-to-reduction-in-risk-of-covid-19-admissions-to-hospitals/">new data out of the UK.</a></p><p>The figures, published early Monday, are the first to measure the rate of hospitalization from a real-world vaccine rollout.</p><p>It is the latest in a series of promising updates from countries which have vaccinated significant proportions of their populations.</p><p>Monday's data came from Scotland, one of the four nations of the UK. It analyzed the health records of 5.4 million people between December 8 and February 15.</p><p>Of those, more than 1.1 million received one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, both of which are authorized for use in the UK.</p><p>The scientists found that those who received the vaccine were significantly less likely to be hospitalized than those who hadn't.</p><p>Looking at the protection overall, hospitalization from COVID-19 dropped by 84% four weeks after receiving a jab. </p><p>The UK decided to prioritize giving as many people as possible a single jab, even though the manufacturers recommend two for the fullest protection. As a result, relatively few in the UK have had a second dose.</p><p>Breaking down the data, one dose of the Pfizer vaccine cut hospitalizations by 85% four weeks after the first jab, and the AstraZeneca vaccine cut hospitalizations up to 94%.</p><p>The scientists also measured the effect of the vaccine every week after receiving the first dose. They found the vaccine had the strongest effect in the fourth week after inoculation. </p><p>Vaccine effect was highest on those aged 18-64. However, in that age bracket, only those who have been defined as clinically vulnerable would have received the vaccine.</p><p>Among those aged over 80 years, who are at the highest risk from COVID-19, the vaccine gave 81% reduction in hospitalization after four weeks. </p><p>This study was published as a pre-print, the next step will be for it to be reviewed by peers.</p><p>This is the first study looking at the effect of a vaccine on hospitalization for an entire nation, the scientists said. </p><p>Real-world data from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-is-pushing-stringent-new-measures-to-incentivise-vaccination-2021-2">Israel's rapid vaccine campaign</a> has previously shown that the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-vaccine-reduces-symptomatic-covid-19-cases-israel-2021-2">Pfizer vaccine cuts 94% of symptomatic cases</a> after two doses of the vaccine, a separate measure of effectiveness.</p><p>Lead scientist Aziz Sheik from the University of Edinburgh, said that this evidence "given us great reasons to be optimistic for the future." </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccines-cut-84-percent-virus-hospitalizations-uk-data-2021-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-usns-comfort-hospital-ship-new-york-coronavirus-covid-19-2020-3">How the Navy's largest hospital ship can help with the coronavirus</a></p>
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