The CDC finds unvaccinated 11 times more likely to die of COVID

New U.S. studies released Friday show that COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective against hospitalizations and death, even as the extra-contagious delta variant ravaged the country.

One study tracked more than 600,000 cases of COVID-19 in 13 states from April to mid-July. As the delta increased in early summer, those who were not vaccinated were 4.5 times more likely to become infected than those who were completely vaccinated, more than 10 times more hospitalized and 11 times closer to dying, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Vaccination works,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at the White House meeting Friday. “The bottom line is this: we have the scientific tools to turn the corner against this pandemic.”

But, as previous data have shown, protection against coronavirus infection is slightly reduced: it was 91% in the spring, but 78% in June and July, according to the study.

Cases called “advances” in fully vaccinated people accounted for 14% of hospitalizations and 16% of deaths in June and July, about twice the percentage that at the beginning of the year.

Announcements

It’s not surprising an increase in these percentages – no one ever said the vaccines were perfect, and health experts have warned that as more Americans are vaccinated, they will account for a larger fraction of cases.

Walensky said Friday that more than 90 percent of people in U.S. hospitals with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.

CDC released two more studies on Friday that showed signs of declining protection for older adults. One examined COVID-19 hospitalizations in nine states over the summer and found that protection for those over 75 was 76% compared to 89% of other adults. And in five medical centers for veterans ’affairs, protection against hospitalizations for COVID-19 was 95% among young people aged 18 to 64, compared with 80% of those over 65 years of age.

It is unclear whether the changes observed over time are due to decreased immunity in people first vaccinated many months ago, that the vaccine is not as strong against the delta, or that much of the country abandoned masks and other precautions. delta began to spread.

Announcements

But U.S. health authorities will consider these latest real-world data as they will decide if at least some Americans need a booster and how long after their last dose. Next week, Food and Drug Administration advisers will publicly discuss Pfizer’s request to offer a third shot.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.