Comprehensive vaccination reduced the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 in the elderly by 90%, new study finds

A recent study of Cowlitz County Health & Human Services in Washington State, United States, has shown that the risk for people 65 and over of suffering hospitalization or death from COVID-19 is reduced by 90% in the case of those who have completed the vaccination. program.

The study was carried out among the most vulnerable age group, namely adults over 65, who have a high probability of suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19, and confirmed the high effectiveness of the vaccines. to avoid hospitalizations and deaths.

This is particularly relevant data given that the highly contagious Delta variant already accounts for 75% of new cases of the disease. in the United States, India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Australia, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Portugal and Israel. In Latin America, several countries have started reporting the first cases in recent days and in some there is even community circulation, such as in Brazil and Paraguay. In Argentina, it is not yet reported that it has spread beyond those who arrived infected from abroad and their close contacts.

Specialists have warned that it is inevitable that it begins to circulate and that is why the government has announced a change in its vaccination strategy, which during the month of August will tend to strengthen the protection of the population by applying the second doses to as many people as possible. possible. The situation in Cordoba is particularly worrying. Two days ago there were five inmates and 800 people isolated due to Delta variant infections..

The report released this week in the US state of Washington confirmed the effectiveness of vaccines that other specialists have already studied. It joins other studies, a summary of which was published last week in New England Journal of Medicine. Thanks to a table, he realized the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Delta variant. In the same it was stated that Pfizer protects 36 percent with one dose and 88 with two; AstraZeneca, 30 percent efficient with one app and 67 percent efficient with two. Regarding Sputnik, they said it protects 90 percent with two doses. Respect for Moderna, it’s effective but they haven’t detailed the percentage. Johnson & Johnson, with its single dose, is 33% effective. For Sinovac and Cansino, no data has been found so far.

In the case of the new report, said Steven Krager, assistant health worker for Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties in southwest Washington, “it shows how COVID vaccines are effective. -19 in preventing serious illnesses that can lead to hospitalization ”.

In this way, it was established that for people 65 years of age or older, the risk of hospitalization in those who were fully vaccinated was reduced by 90%. and in those who were partially vaccinated by 75%.

With the new results in hand, which add to other similar studies, the specialist called to “complete the vaccine series” for this “provides the greatest protection, but even those who they are not fully vaccinated but they do receive some protection from the vaccine “, he stressed.

The same study analyzed the immunization status of residents of that district of Washington state aged 45 to 65 and found that 91% of those hospitalized were not vaccinated. “COVID-19 vaccines are very effective, but not perfect. A small number of people who are fully vaccinated can still contract COVID-19, ”he warned. Alain Melnick, Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties medical officer of health.

“But these data show that those who are vaccinated are much less likely to be hospitalized because of their illness. Getting vaccinated offers the best protection. “

The researchers estimated that people were “fully vaccinated” two weeks after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. or two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine. People are considered partially vaccinated if they have received at least one dose but are not yet fully vaccinated.

The report also looked at the immunization status of residents aged 45 to 64 who were hospitalized for COVID-19. However, less than 10 fully vaccinated residents of this age group have been hospitalized for COVID-19, making it impossible to calculate a statistically stable estimated rate, they said.

Hospitalization data showed that 91% of hospitalized residents aged 45 to 64 were not vaccinated. In comparison, 49% of the population of this age group in the region were not vaccinated.

The scan included residents of Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties who were hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 22 to June 27, 2021.

The report was compiled by Cowlitz County Health and Human Services. Other health services in southwest Washington have partnered with Cowlitz County on the project.

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