Decreases in COVID-19 Cases, Emergency Department Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths Among Older Adults Following the Introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, September 6, 2020–May 1, 2021

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Christie, Athalia ; Henley, S. Jane ; Mattocks, Linda ; Fernando, Robyn ; Lansky, Amy ; Ahmad, Farida B. ; Adjemian, Jennifer ; Anderson, Robert N. ; Binder, Alison M. ; Carey, Kelly ; Dee, Deborah L. ; Dias, Taylor ; Duck, William M. ; Gaughan, Denise M. ; Lyons, Brianna Casey ; McNaghten, A.D. ; Park, Meeyoung M. ; Reses, Hannah ; Rodgers, Loren ; Van Santen, Katharina ; Walker, David ; Beach, Michael J.
• Description:
  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, older U.S. adults have been at increased risk for severe COVID-19-associated illness and death (1). On December 14, 2020, the United States began a nationwide vaccination campaign after the Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended prioritizing health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities, followed by essential workers and persons at risk for severe illness, including adults aged ≥65 years, in the early phases of the vaccination program (2). By May 1, 2021, 82%, 63%, and 42% of persons aged ≥65, 50-64, and 18-49 years, respectively, had received ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. CDC calculated the rates of COVID-19 cases, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, and deaths by age group during November 29-December 12, 2020 (prevaccine) and April 18-May 1, 2021. The rate ratios comparing the oldest age groups (≥70 years for hospital admissions; ≥65 years for other measures) with adults aged 18-49 years were 40%, 59%, 65%, and 66% lower, respectively, in the latter period. These differential declines are likely due, in part, to higher COVID-19 vaccination coverage among older adults, highlighting the potential benefits of rapidly increasing vaccination coverage.
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Age Distribution CoronaVirus Infections COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccines Emergency Service, Hospital Hospitalization Humans Incidence Middle Aged Mortality Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  MMWR Morbidity Mortal Weekly Rep. 70(23):858-864
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Pubmed ID:
  34111059
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8191865
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Pages in Document:
  7 pdf pages
• Volume:
  70
• Issue:
  23
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6cd5cdcbddec2e5a56b9ab4aa4e496068ac2af463ed8a82e0949683a0680a3f1a05a670ae7c8626d15597523cca5100887c42d36337db0e40295f7ea0603f5af
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/107648/cdc_107648_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 215.79 KB ]