CDC: Vaccinated Americans up to 14 times less likely to die from COVID-19

When the omicron BA.4/BA.5 variants were circulating, Americans who received an updated COVID-19 vaccine were 14 times less likely to die than those who received no vaccine and five times less likely to die than those who received the original monovalent vaccine, according a study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated vaccine particularly increased protection for people aged 65 and older, CDC said. For best protection against severe illness and death, everyone aged 6 months and older should receive a bivalent booster dose at least two months after their COVID-19 primary series or last monovalent booster dose, CDC said.

In other news, CDC today released 2023 immunization schedules for children and adults, which include the COVID-19 primary vaccine series and links to the latest guidance on booster dose vaccination.