Infectious Disease Facts and Figures
COVID-19 and the Importance of Vaccination
According to the recent decision made by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), adults aged 65 and above are recommended to receive an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-2024 season. The vote yielded eleven members in favor, one against, and one abstaining.
The CDC Director, Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, supported this recommendation, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced due to high hospitalization rates and fatalities related to COVID-19. Megan Wallace, DrPH, MPH, from the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), highlighted that approximately 20,000 individuals are hospitalized weekly due to COVID-19, resulting in around 2,000 deaths each week.
Throughout the past year, there has been a consistent rate of over 6,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations weekly. The elderly population, particularly those aged 65 and older, have shown the highest rates of hospitalization, with individuals aged 75 and above facing the highest mortality rates.
Christopher Taylor, PhD, also from NCIRD, stressed that individuals aged 65 and above accounted for two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations between March 2020 and January 2024. The majority of these hospitalized individuals were either unvaccinated or had not received the latest vaccine updates.
A concerning issue discussed was the low vaccination coverage for the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Despite the perceived safety and importance of these vaccines by most Americans, there has been a decline in vaccine confidence. Kevin Chatham-Stephens, MD, MPH, shared that only 21% of adults had received the most recent booster dose. Vaccine distribution among different demographics showed disparities, with higher vaccination rates among those with health insurance, higher income levels, and residing in urban areas.
The decision to change the recommendation language from “may” to “should” for adults aged 65 and above receiving an additional vaccine dose sparked a significant conversation among ACIP members. Dr. Jamie Loehr from Cayuga Family Medicine in Ithaca, New York, emphasized the potential benefits of providing an extra vaccine dose, especially for high-risk individuals. The importance of this change in recommendation language was acknowledged by the committee members.
In conclusion, addressing the low vaccine uptake and rising hospitalization rates for COVID-19 is crucial in combating the ongoing pandemic. The vaccination of individuals aged 65 and older is seen as a key strategy in reducing the impact of the disease and protecting vulnerable populations.