There are basically 4 effectiveness numbers, based on whether you measure:

* positive PCR tests

* showing symptoms

* hospitalization

* death

I share kube-system's frustration with the media glossing over those details quite often.

Here in Germany, there were numbers thrown around such as the mRNA vaccines being 90%+ effective, and the AstraZeneca being only in 60ies or 70ies (which was likely based on PCR tests). Which made many Germans hesitant to get that vaccine.

Turns out, AstraZeneca prevents hospitalization at a roughly 90% effectiveness rate (recent numbers from England, don#t have link ready right now), which sound much better than 65% number.