SUNY Oswego to require COVID-19 vaccination or negative test for indoor events CNYcentral.com
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SUNY Oswego to require COVID-19 vaccination or negative test for indoor events - CNYcentral.com
By JULIA FELTON and JEFF HIMLER, Tribune-Review
PITTSBURGH (AP) Karen Baldridge rolled up her sleeve to get her covid-19 booster vaccine.
Im trying to baby myself and (am) doing everything that I can to keep healthy, she said this past week while at Excela Square at Norwin. I feel theres about a 90% chance I wouldnt get (Covid), but if I get it, I dont feel that Ill get it as bad and I dont feel that it will last as long.
Baldridge, a North Huntingdon resident in her 70s, is among the 56% of people in the U.S. who are fully vaccinated against covid. In Pennsylvania, she is among nearly 58% of the total population and nearly 69% of those 18 or older who are fully vaccinated, as tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaccines have been hailed by the medical community as societys quickest, safest path to emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their availability is arguably the biggest difference between todays pandemic and the 1918 influenza pandemic.
That historical event, some medical experts say, can help frame the current one and offer clues about where COVID-19 might lead.
The United States recently surpassed the death toll from what became known as the Spanish flu pandemic a mark unthinkable 18 months ago. On Friday, the U.S. eclipsed 700,000 deaths, and there have been about 4.8 million covid deaths worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
The 1918 pandemic killed at least 675,000 lives nationwide and 50 million worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States, however, has tripled its population in the last century.
Were 100 years more advanced than we were then, said Dr. Nate Shively, an infectious disease expert with Allegheny Health Network. I think many would find that somewhat dispiriting, just that the pandemic continues to burn despite having really all the tools at our hands now to bring it close to an end. And were just not using all those tools effectively.
Medical experts cite the vaccine as the most effective tool. The Pfizer booster shot recently was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend protection for Americans who are older or have underlying medical conditions.
Yet many remain skeptical.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the John Hopkins Center for Health Security, called it inexcusable that the covid-19 death total in the U.S. eclipsed that of the 1918 pandemic.
When people died of the flu in 1918, they didnt have access to vaccines and todays modern science. With the significant medical advancements made over the past 100 years, Adalja said, America should be handling this pandemic much better.
What were doing in the United States is self-inflicted, he said. We can account for it by people not being receptive to science and openly defying it.
Dr. Donald Burke, a distinguished professor and former dean at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, is an expert at using computer modeling and simulation to guide public health decision-making.
He said its important to consider the death rate and not simply the death total.
In Pennsylvania, COVID-19 has killed more than 29,000 people, according to the state Department of Health. The Keystone State was among the hardest hit in the 1918 pandemic, which claimed more than 60,000 lives here, according to the University of Pennsylvania.
The 1918 flu is believed to have caused about 4,500 deaths in Pittsburgh and another 2,000 in Westmoreland County. COVID-19 deaths so far have reached 2,100 in Allegheny County and 840 in Westmoreland.
Even though the death totals are similar, the death rates that is the rate per 100,000 people, or per-unit population are lower now from covid than it was for influenza by about three-fold, Burke said. Total numbers are important, but the rates matter more in understanding the impact.
The 1918 flu pandemic largely impacted younger populations, with a large proportion of the deaths in individuals between the ages of 18 and 30. That was unusual for influenza and particularly straining for society, Burke said, as the day-to-day functions of society are more dependent on that age group.
There is no straightforward definition for when a pandemic ends, said Seema Lakdawala, an associate professor who researches flu viruses in Pitt School of Medicines Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics.
The first U.S. cases of the 1918 pandemic were reported in March of that year, when more than 100 soldiers in Fort Riley, Kansas, became ill, according to the CDC. That was nearly a year after the United States entered World War I, with troop movements cited as a factor in spreading the disease.
Influenza remained rampant in Paris in early 1919, when the treaty to end the war was negotiated.
Lakdawala noted the H1N1 virus that was responsible for the 1918 pandemic never went away and continued to kill many people each year.
It wasnt until the 1930s that the virus was recognized as the cause. A vaccine to combat it was first recommended in 1960.
Even with vaccines, tens of thousands of Americans die each year from the flu, Lakdawala pointed out. In 2017-18, 80,000 people died from seasonal influenza, she said.
Still, Lakdawala, who also is a member of Pitts Center for Vaccine Research, said vaccines are the safest way to bring the spread of viruses under control rather than trying to reach herd immunity through natural infection.
Beyond the risk of death, she said, There are obviously long-term consequences of getting the virus. Weve had it now for over a year, and we have long-term covid symptoms, including adverse effects on breathing and pulmonary function.
As viruses replicate and spread through the population, they will evolve, she said. If we had a higher level of vaccination, wed have less transmission and less diversity in the covid virus. Its not that it would go away, but it would definitely get slower.
Burke said he anticipates that the COVID-19 pandemic will end much like the 1918 flu epidemic did by morphing into a seasonal virus that never really leaves.
The 1918 flu blew through the worlds population, he said, infecting huge swaths, which gained natural immunity the only answer at the time because vaccines were not yet a reality.
But COVID-19 vaccines are available and highly effective, Burke said. Once enough people have immunity either from contracting the disease or from being inoculated the pandemic will lessen, he said.
Even if vaccine uptake doesnt improve, Adalja said, the pandemic will still taper down. But it will do so because people contract the virus and gain natural immunity rather than from being vaccinated. With infection, however, comes the risk of death, Adalja said.
No matter what, the pandemic is going to ease because people get infected. Vaccines dampen the impact of the pandemic, but the final common pathway is going to be the same, Adalja said.
Thats what happened with the 1918 flu, Burke said.
It didnt cause a major new pandemic again, but it caused seasonal flu, and it continues to mutate and evolve and cause significant disease but never pandemic proportions, Burke said. I wouldnt be surprised if covid does pretty much the same thing. Its unlikely to go away after a year or two because there are huge parts of the world that are not immune and are not vaccinated.
As long as there are any populations on the planet that are susceptible, the virus will transmit.
One positive outcome of the 1918 pandemic, though it was long in coming, was creation of the World Health Organization. Excela Latrobe pediatrics physician Dr. David Wyszomierski, who has studied the earlier pandemic, noted WHO in 1952 developed a global surveillance system to track different strains of influenza.
He said the covid virus, like the flu, can switch some of its genetic material to become more contagious or more pathologic. That is what has occurred with the emergence of the delta variant, which has been cited in the recent increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
With another flu season approaching, Wyszomierski stressed the importance of getting a covid-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine for those who are eligible.
It may take over 90% of the population gaining some form of immunity before the pandemic tapers off, Shively said. Once it becomes controlled, it will likely become another of the endemic coronaviruses.
Four other coronaviruses circulate in the human population as common colds, Burke said. COVID-19 will likely join their ranks.
If you look at the molecular evolutionary pattern, it looks like (coronaviruses) entered humans at least hundreds of years ago, he said. Maybe this happens every century or so, that a virus jumps and makes it into humans and then settles into this equilibrium.
Still, theres always a risk of another serious pandemic, experts warn.
We are absolutely not spared from a new pandemic happening be it 100 years in the future or later this year before this one is gone, Shively said.
The risk of pandemics spreading is higher now than ever, Burke said. As the world becomes more interconnected, viruses have an easier time traveling globally whereas many epidemics in the past died off on one continent or a lone corner of the world.
Several viruses in recent years, like Ebola and H1N1, had the potential to cause a devastating worldwide pandemic, Shively said. They just didnt.
Preparation for the next pandemic and learning lessons from this one is something that we as a country and an international community can gain, he said. When another pandemic will happen is hard to say, but another pandemic will happen. We need to take steps to make sure that were prepared for when it does.
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Does the 1918 pandemic offer any clues on emerging from COVID-19? - PennLive
Friday marked the deadline for the vast majority of Veterans Affairs Department employeesto complete their COVID-19 vaccination, though more than 45,000have yet to demonstrate that they have done so.
Those employees may eventually face disciplinary action, including being fired, but VA is giving them 10 more days to submit the requisite documentation or request an exemption. The 380,000 VA employees working in or near the health care field faced a deadline of Oct. 8 to receive their vaccines, about six weeks earlier than the rest of the federal workforce, due to the department issuing its own mandate independently of the one put in place by President Biden.
About 88% of the impacted workforce has so far received a shot, according to data VA has collected. Employees must submit documentation of their vaccination by Oct. 18, or request a religious or medical accommodation. The Biden-created Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has directed agencies to determine whether an exemption is legally required by examining the basis for the claim, the nature of the employee's job and its impact on agency operations. The group, made up of officials from the White House, Office of Personnel Management and General Services Administration, told agencies they may still fire employees with otherwise valid exemptions if the employees are in certain types of jobs where no other safety protocol would be sufficient.
Terrence Hayes, a VA spokesman, could not say how many exemption requests the department has received, noting it will only collect that data after the Oct. 18 deadline. He added VA will have a more accurate count of its unvaccinated population after that date.
VA will begin disciplining unvaccianted staff after that deadline. Hayes said the department will weigh various factors in determining the appropriate punishment, including relevant Douglas Factors and other aggravating and mitigating details. As recommended by Bidens task force, VA will begin the progressive discipline process with counseling that educates employeeson thebenefits of the vaccines and encourages them to get inoculated. If that is not followed by a good-faith effort to get vaccinated, VA will move to a suspension of 14 days or less.
If, after counseling and after any discipline for the initial non-compliance with the policy, the employee does not take steps to comply with the requirement, further progressive discipline will be taken, which could include removal from federal service, Hayes said. Each case will be assessed independently, based on the facts and circumstances surrounding that case and any extenuating and mitigating circumstances.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough said last month the department was making a significant push to reach unvaccinated employees, including by collaborating with influencers and employee unions. While he said VA was "making preparations" to carry out firings as necessary, he hoped it would not come to that.
The goal of that discipline is to get people vaccinated, the secretary said. The last thing we want to do is have to fire trained personnel.
The vaccination rate for health care staff has ticked up in recent weeks. In mid-September, only 82% of workers had attested to their vaccination status and within that subgroup, only 88% had said they were fully or partially vaccinated.
Many VA employees who spoke to Government Executive since the initial mandate went into effect have expressed apprehension, with some planning to seek exemptions or quit. Those workers said they begrudged VA for taking away their choice. Employees added that tension has reached a boiling point between the vaccinated and unvaccinated, with some staff who already received their shots telling those who havenot they should lose their jobs.
Other VA personnelthe non-health care staff who are newly facing a requirement under Bidens federal workforce-wide orderface a Nov. 22 deadline to get their shots.
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Federal employees are now required to be fully vaccinated.
Over the last several weeks, federal and local vaccine mandates have been implemented across the US. Los Angeles approved its strictest COVID-19 vaccination mandate yet, which will require people age 12 and older to be fully vaccinated before entering public indoor places, starting Nov. 4. In California, a judgeordered vaccine mandatesfor prison guards and staff. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says all students, elementary through high school, will berequired to get the shotonce it's fully approved for those age groups. (Currently, Pfizer's full approval extends to those 16 years and older.)
So far, the mandates are working as more people are getting vaccinated. For example, meat processor Tyson Foods now has a 91% vaccination rate among its employees. New York teachers have reached a 96% vaccination rate. But there's also opposition from some groups: A New York state mandate that all health care workers be vaccinated, with no religious exemptions, has sparked multiple legal challenges andfear of staffing shortages. Some students have reportedly withdrawn from college due to the mandates.
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President Joe Biden is seeking to put pressure on about 80 million more Americans to get vaccinated. Roughly1 in 500 people in the US have diedfrom COVID-19, and vaccination rates have slowed despite the uptick indelta variantcases. Meanwhile, more than 98%of people hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis between June and August this year were unvaccinated.
We'll explain who's required to get COVID-19 vaccines under the new administration plan. If you're already fully vaccinated and waiting to get a booster shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee has recommended one for those at high risk. Also, here's the latest on retrieving your vaccination card if you lost itand vaccines for kids.
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Announcing "a new plan to require more Americans to be vaccinated to combat those blocking public health," Biden rolled out his administration's Path Out of the Pandemic program, which aims to increase the vaccination rate by requiring shots across public and private sectors. Roughly 80 million Americans who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine have not been vaccinated. And as of July, 99% of COVID deaths were among the unvaccinated, who also make up 97% of hospitalizations.
Here's who's required to be vaccinated under the plan:
The strategyalso calls on state officials to make vaccinations mandatory for teachers and school staff. And the president called on entertainment venues to require proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter their facilities. The administration is also upping fines for those who fail to wear masks on airplanes, trains and buses.
Since the White House announced new federalCOVID-19 vaccinemandates affecting roughly two-thirds of the US workforce, or up to 100 million people, it'sreceived backlashfrom congressional Republicans, as well as state and local officials.
Republican governors are threatening to fight the administration's new policies. Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the senior Republican on the House of Representatives committee overseeing health policy, said Biden "is using fear, control and mandates." The Republican National Committee has vowed to sue the Biden administration over the vaccine mandate.
Areport from the CDCon Sept. 17 shows that unvaccinated people were over 10 times more likely to become hospitalized or die from COVID-19, according to data from April through July: "Getting vaccinated protects against severe illness from COVID-19, including the delta variant."
Some companies that fall under the new vaccine mandate are facing challenges and questions about compliance and implementation of the policy, according to the Wall Street Journal. For example, businesses have to figure out who will be responsible for covering the cost of testing unvaccinated employees and whether they can authorize exemptions.
Several companies have announced plans for mandatory vaccinations, including airlines, cruise lines, concert halls, health care facilities and restaurants. Some of the requirements may include mask and testing guidelines, and some may only apply to employees traveling internationally, working in the office or having face-to-face interactions with customers. If any of these apply to you, check with your employer for more details.
Here are some of the companies that have announced vaccination requirements for employees:
In August, the Pentagon said that all 1.3 million active-duty service members will need to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The directive covers all active-duty members of the Armed Forces or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard. The Department of Defense will make Pfizer shots accessible on military installations around the world. Service members who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines will still be considered fully vaccinated. There are some exemptions, including one for religious reasons, but theyaren't granted frequently.
In response to several cities requiring law enforcement officers to get vaccinated, police associations have come out openly against vaccine mandates. In Oregon, for example, police and firefighter associations are suing to block a state-level vaccine requirement.
Right now, members of the military are already required to get at least nine other vaccines -- up to 17 total vaccines -- depending on where they're deployed.
Several states, including California and New York, require state employees to be vaccinated. Additionally, several cities, like New York City and San Francisco, require proof of vaccination for inside dining, gyms and other indoor activities. Starting Thursday, Oct. 7, Los Angeles County will require proof of vaccination to enter indoor bars, nightclubs, breweries and wineries. This could eventually be extended to all public indoor places for everyone eligible to get the vaccine.
Nine states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have vaccination requirements for staff in K-12 schools.
More than 400 colleges and universitiesare also requiring vaccines for students who plan to take in-person classes.
Some cities require proof of vaccination to participate in indoor activities.
A federal vaccine mandate is not new. In 1977, for example, the federal government began an initiative to vaccinate up to 90% of the nation's children against seven diseases:
All 50 states require specific vaccines for students, with exemptions varying from state to state. Most school requirements follow the CDC's vaccine schedule for children.
At least 20 states with Republican governors, including Arkansas, Florida and Texas, prohibit proof-of-vaccination requirements. That means businesses, schools and local government institutions can't enforce a vaccine mandate. (The same goes for requiring face masks.) The prohibitions went into effect through either legislation or executive orders.
Some governors are trying to prevent private employers, as well as the state, from requiring vaccines, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Some are also trying to prevent the use ofvaccine passports, which show proof that you've been vaccinated against COVID-19.
For more information, here's what to know aboutbreakthrough infectionsamong the fully vaccinated. Also, here's what we know about thedelta plus variant.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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COVID-19 vaccine mandate: Here's the latest on who's required to show proof of vaccination - CNET
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With the goal of making a COVID-19 vaccine available to all persons who choose to receive it, health care officials have developed a phased-approach to first make the vaccine available to high-risk health care workers, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and first responders. Vaccinations began on December 16, 2020 in San Bernardino County and are continuing.
Vaccine Locations and Registration
COVID-19 vaccines are available to people 12 and older who live and work in San Bernardino County.
Walk-ins are now available at County-operated vaccination sites. Walk-in individuals will not need to bring any additional information to the site, however be prepared to register on site, which will include answering health screening questions.
Walk-ins may experience longer wait times and availability may vary based on site demand.
Appointments are Park and Walk In.
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The announcement comes the same day that Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. 70% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported Thursday.
The announcement comes the same day that Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages five to 11. Shots could come in a few weeks if regulators agree.
"COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be our best tool for preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19," NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. said.
Seventy percent of North Carolinians have sought out reliable information and decided to protect themselves and others with tested, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines," she explained. "If youre not vaccinated, its not too late. Just dont wait."
WCNC Charlotte answered some of your looming questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots here.
Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more COVID-19 information and updates and to find a vaccine location near you.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
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70% of NC adults have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, DHHS reports - WCNC.com
Free COVID-19 shots and saliva testing to be provided to residents
Union County, NJ The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents of the free COVID-19 vaccines and testing available at convenient pop-up clinics throughout the County during the month of October. The upcoming clinics will be held in Plainfield, Roselle Park, Union, Scotch Plains, Westfield, and Roselle.
Third doses and boosters of the Pfizer vaccine for eligible residents will also be available at the upcoming mobile clinics. To check eligibility for a third dose, visit: https://ucnj.org/covid19/covid-19-pfizer-booster-dose/.
In addition to free vaccinations, residents can also get a free COVID-19 saliva test at any of the pop-up clinics. Residents can also get vaccinated for COVID-19 at Union Countys permanent vaccine clinics. For an updated list of permanent sites, residents can visit: https://ucnj.org/covid19/vaccinations-page/. Vaccines are also available weekdays on a walk-in basis at the Union County Immunization Clinic located at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth.
Due to variant strains of COVID-19, we strongly urge residents to get their vaccine as soon as possible, said Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella. Residents who are eligible for a third dose should also make an appointment as soon as possible for added protection.
Union County began offering pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in local communities earlier this year, in order to reach vulnerable populations including seniors, homeless individuals, and others who would have difficulty traveling to a centralized vaccine site.
The Board of County Commissioners will continue to provide residents with opportunities for vaccination and testing, said Commissioner and Chair of the Public Safety Committee Sergio Granados. Easy access to vaccines and testing remains our focus as vaccination is key to keeping Union County residents safe as we continue to navigate COVID-19 and its variants.
The Countys pop-up program has now expanded to include all age-approved Union County residents. Currently, any resident age 12 and older is eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. Eligibility for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines begins at age 18. Those who receive the first dose of a two dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at one of Union Countys Mobile Vaccinations Clinics will receive instructions as to how and when to receive their second dose. Currently, third doses of the two dose vaccines are available for immunocompromised residents.
Any Union County resident can make an appointment at any of the following clinics, regardless of their home town:
Appointments at the pop-up clinics or permanent vaccine sites can be booked online by creating an account at ucnj.org/vax. Residents looking to visit the Immunization Clinic for a free COVID-19 vaccine can walk in Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Union County residents who are home-bound or have difficulty leaving the home can arrange for a home vaccination visit by contacting Union Countys service provider, Mobile Medical Services. Call 1-833-256-2478 during regular weekday business hours to speak with an operator, leave a voice message after hours to receive a callback, or email a callback request to vaccine@mmst.io. Messages are returned on the following business day.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
Connect with Union County on social media.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations were introduced in the United States in December 2020. Initially, COVID-19 vaccines were made available to nursing home residents and healthcare workers but were then rolled out differently according to state, but mainly prioritizing the elderly.
Study: Associations Between County-level Vaccination Rates and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries. Image Credit: CameraCraft/ Shutterstock
The first vaccine types to be rolled out were the Pfizer and Moderna in December, of which two doses were required, several weeks apart. Following these, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was made available in February 2021, which only requires a single dose.
The high efficacy of these vaccines was shown in the initial clinical trials in preventing severe COVID-19 and continued protection against emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. However, the effectiveness could be slightly lower.
The authors of a study available on ASPE* identified the associations between COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries and the fully vaccinated population at the county-level between January and May 2021.
When the COVID-19 vaccinations were first rolled out, weekly vaccination rates in January were less than 1% for the age groups 18-64 and 65+, but by the last week of May, the rates increased to a total of 47% and 80%.
Considering the risk of COVID-19 infection, among individuals who were 65 or older, a 10% increase in the COVID-19 vaccination rate was associated with an 11% decrease in the chance of infection, with an estimated reduction between 9-12%. For those aged between 18 and 64, a 10% increase in vaccinations was associated with approximately an 11% and 12% decrease in the odds of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19.
Among Medicare beneficiaries, the rates of COVID-19 vaccinations were associated with an estimated 17-21% reduction in infections and an estimated 21-25% reduction in deaths across ethnic and racial groups.
Alaska Natives and American Indians displayed the largest reduction, with an estimated reduction in infections of 21% and a reduction in deaths of 25%, compared to 18% and 22% among White beneficiaries. White beneficiaries accounted for the largest estimated number of reductions in COVID-19 outcomes, who made up 81% of the study cohort.
Among Black beneficiaries, the authors estimated reductions of 29,000 infections and almost 4,600 deaths in the Medicare population, 29.000 infection and almost 5,000 death reductions in Hispanic beneficiaries, almost 7,600 infection and 1,400 reductions in Asian beneficiaries, and reductions of 2,000 infections and 400 deaths in Alaska Native and American Indian beneficiaries within the Medicare population.
Long-term nursing home residents are a group of individuals at a significantly high risk of serious health complications and death if they become infected with SARS-CoV-2. They are disproportionally affected by COVID-19.
For long-term nursing home residents, vaccine administration was associated with estimated reductions of almost 8,400 infections, 1,900 hospitalizations, and 2,200 deaths within the cohort study. When projected to the total Medicare population, it translates to an estimated reduction of almost all 21,000 infections, 4,900 hospitalizations, and 5,600 deaths.
In comparison to community-based beneficiaries, long-term nursing home residents were less likely to be hospitalized, but this may be due to them already residing in a healthcare setting.
This study shows that among the Medicare population in early 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations were associated with thousands of fewer deaths. This was displayed via population-level regression-based estimates and is consistent with the evidence on the clinical effectiveness of the vaccines. The authors hypothesize that more Medicare beneficiaries are expected to be saved from hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 as cumulative vaccination rates continue to rise.
*This content is in the process of Section 508 review. If you need immediate assistance accessing this content, please submit a request to Wafa Tarazi, (202) 260-1809, [emailprotected] Content will be updated pending the outcome of the Section 508 review.
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