A study released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that all COVID-19 vaccines being used in the United States provide substantial protection against hospitalization.

News outlets will understandably focus on how the vaccines rank in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: 93% effectiveness against hospitalization for Moderna, 88% for Pfizer/BioNTech’s Cormirnity, and 71% for the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

From a public health standpoint, however, here is the headline: Another study has found all three vaccines highly effective against severe outcomes from COVID-19.

This great news follows last week’s MMWR report, which included input from the Arizona Department of Health Services, finding that people vaccinated against COVID-19 are more than 10 times less likely to be hospitalized or to die from COVID-19. The research continues to show that all three vaccines are achieving their purpose of protecting people against COVID-19, especially from severe illness and death.

If you haven’t already been vaccinated against COVID-19, this new report is another reason to protect yourself, your family and your community by rolling up your sleeve.

The ADHS website has answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and vaccination.

You’ll find hundreds of providers conveniently located around Arizona at azdhs.gov/FindVaccine.

Editor’s note: Don Herrington is interim director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. Learn more at azdhs.gov.