CDC: Infection, hospitalization of COVID-19 patients by vaccination status

Editor's Note

This analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the incidence of COVID-19 and hospitalization of COVID-19 patients by vaccination status indicates that vaccination protects against severe COVID-19.

Among 422,966 COVID-19 patients in Los Angeles County from November 7, 2021, to January 8, 2022, 141,928 (33.6%) were unvaccinated, 56,185 (13.3%) were fully vaccinated with a booster, and 224,853 (53.2%) were fully vaccinated without a booster.

As of January 8, 2022, during the Omicron variant’s predominance:

• COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates in unvaccinated individuals were 3.6 and 23 times, respectively, that of fully vaccinated individuals with a booster.
• COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates in unvaccinated individuals were 2.0 and 5.3 times, respectively, that of fully vaccinated individuals without a booster.

In addition, admission to ICU, intubation for mechanical ventilation, and death were more likely to occur in unvaccinated than fully vaccinated patients with or without a booster.

Being up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is critical to protecting against infection and hospitalization, the authors say.