According to data from 25 state and local health departments, adults who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 as the omicron variant emerged in December had nearly three times higher risk of infection than adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and five times higher risk than adults who had received a booster, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. The highest impact of COVID-19 booster doses compared with full vaccination was recorded among persons aged 50 and older. Because of reporting lags, the influence of the omicron variant on COVID-19-associated deaths could not be evaluated by vaccination status in December, the authors note. 

According to a second CDC report released today, receipt of a third vaccine dose was highly effective during both the delta- and omicron-predominant periods at preventing COVID-19-associated emergency department and urgent care visits (94% and 82%, respectively) and preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalizations (94% and 90%, respectively).

Related News Articles

Headline
AHA's latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 provides fall-themed social media posts and graphics. Download the…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week endorsed a recommendation for people aged 65 and older and for immunocompromised individuals to…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 22 released final guidance detailing reporting requirements for the hospital respiratory data condition…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding clinicians and other health care workers to take necessary steps to keep themselves and their…
Chairperson's File
Autumn is here, and that means cooler weather and also the start of flu season.We know the best way to prevent influenza is to get a flu vaccine. The Centers…
Headline
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Sept. 25 released a survey showing that less than one in five U.S. adults are concerned about themselves or a…