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A groundbreaking global study coordinated by Professor Stefania Boccia of Università Cattolica and her colleagues has revealed that COVID-19 vaccines prevented more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2024. Published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, the comprehensive research analyzed worldwide population and vaccination data, highlighting the significant life-saving impact of vaccines even through the challenging omicron variant waves.
Key Findings:
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An estimated 2.533 million deaths were averted globally thanks to COVID-19 vaccination.
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One death was prevented for every 5,400 vaccine doses administered.
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82% of lives saved were among individuals vaccinated prior to virus exposure.
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57% of lives saved were during the omicron variant period.
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90% of lives saved involved people aged 60 and older.
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Vaccination resulted in 14.8 million years of life saved, equating to one year of life saved for every 900 doses administered.
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Most life years saved (76%) were in people over 60, while residents in long-term care facilities accounted for only 2%.
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Children, adolescents, and young adults contributed minimally to lives and life years saved.
The study deployed advanced statistical methods tocompare actual COVID-19 outcomes with modeled scenarios assuming no vaccination. This approach enabled the researchers to quantify the number of lives and years of life saved by vaccines globally, offering the most thorough analysis to date that spans multiple pandemic phases, including omicron.
Professor Boccia emphasized the conservative nature of these estimates compared to earlier studies, pointing out that the substantial benefits predominantly accrued to more vulnerable populations, especially the elderly. “These findings clearly demonstrate the vital role of COVID-19 vaccination programs in saving lives and extending longevity across the globe from 2020 through 2024,” she said.
This significant contribution highlights the effectiveness of vaccines not only in curbing the death toll but also in preserving millions of years of life, underscoring the critical importance of continuing vaccination efforts worldwide.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on findings reported in the July 2025 study published in JAMA Health Forum and data from the Università Cattolica research team. The findings reflect estimates derived from statistical modeling and available data up to 2024 and may evolve with further research and data updates. The information provided is intended for informational purposes and should not substitute professional medical advice.
