The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID prevention in the Omicron era: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- 1BioNTech UK Ltd
Abstract
ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the prevention of long COVID (LC) in the Omicron era through an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
MethodsWe performed an update of our previously published systematic review and meta-analysis of vaccination and LC risk (searches between 1 January 2022 and 1 March 2024). Databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Europe PMC, LILACS, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register) were searched for studies published between 1 March 2024 and 13 July 2026.
Observational studies assessing the impact of vaccination on the risk of LC four or more weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Vaccines were restricted to those centrally authorised in the European Union. Random-effects meta-analyses, restricted to adults, were performed to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) of LC in three comparisons: vaccinated (any dose) versus unvaccinated; booster vaccination versus unvaccinated; and booster vaccination versus primary course vaccination only.
ResultsNineteen new studies were identified, of which ten were included in the updated meta-analyses alongside eight studies from the original review. The pooled OR of LC in vaccinated adults (any dose) versus unvaccinated was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.84; 13 studies). ORs were also lower for booster vaccination versus unvaccinated (0.73; 95% CI 0.65-0.82; 6 studies), and booster vaccination versus primary course vaccination (0.63; 95% CI 0.53-0.75; 6 studies). Significant associations between vaccination and lower LC odds were observed in subgroup analyses of mRNA-only vaccination and LC outcomes three or more months after infection.
ConclusionsThis updated review and meta-analysis reinforces our previous finding that vaccination may reduce the burden of LC in the Omicron era, with booster doses potentially providing additional protection. Although evidence in high-risk groups now prioritised for vaccination in most countries remains limited, these findings clearly demonstrate the benefits of vaccination and support current seasonal vaccination strategies.
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BibTeX
@misc{marjenberg2026impact,
title = {{The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID prevention in the Omicron era: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Z. Marjenberg and M. J. Peluso and E. Wynberg and S. Abduljawad},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.12.26365288},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.12.26365288v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID prevention in the Omicron era: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Z. Marjenberg
AU - M. J. Peluso
AU - E. Wynberg
AU - S. Abduljawad
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.12.26365288
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.12.26365288v1
AB - ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the prevention of long COVID (LC) in the Omicron era through an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. MethodsWe performed an update of our previously published systematic review and meta-analysis of vaccination and LC risk (searches between 1 January 2022 and 1 March 2024). Databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Europe PMC, LILACS, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register) were searched for studies published between 1 March 2024 and 13 July 2026. Observational studies assessing the impact of vaccination on the risk of LC four or more weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Vaccines were restricted to those centrally authorised in the European Union. Random-effects meta-analyses, restricted to adults, were performed to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) of LC in three comparisons: vaccinated (any dose) versus unvaccinated; booster vaccination versus unvaccinated; and booster vaccination versus primary course vaccination only. ResultsNineteen new studies were identified, of which ten were included in the updated meta-analyses alongside eight studies from the original review. The pooled OR of LC in vaccinated adults (any dose) versus unvaccinated was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.84; 13 studies). ORs were also lower for booster vaccination versus unvaccinated (0.73; 95% CI 0.65-0.82; 6 studies), and booster vaccination versus primary course vaccination (0.63; 95% CI 0.53-0.75; 6 studies). Significant associations between vaccination and lower LC odds were observed in subgroup analyses of mRNA-only vaccination and LC outcomes three or more months after infection. ConclusionsThis updated review and meta-analysis reinforces our previous finding that vaccination may reduce the burden of LC in the Omicron era, with booster doses potentially providing additional protection. Although evidence in high-risk groups now prioritised for vaccination in most countries remains limited, these findings clearly demonstrate the benefits of vaccination and support current seasonal vaccination strategies.
ER -