Covid-19: Humans not vaccinated might have higher fatality

As the Joe Biden administration stepped up efforts to get more people vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in three new studies emphasised the importance of Covid shots in preventing death rates, even amid concerns on waning immunity in some populations. The studies appeared in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

A study showed that people who are not vaccinated against the novel coronavirus disease are 10 times more likely to die from the infection compared to those who have taken the shots.

The findings showed that the currently available Covid-19 jabs provide strong protection for most people against hospitalisation and death, even during the delta surge. However, higher hospitalisation and death rates are observed in older age groups, regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC analysed data on more than 6,00,000 Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths among people 18 and older by vaccination status, reported from April 4 to July 17 in 13 states and cities. Vaccine effectiveness against the infection dropped from 90 per cent, when delta had not yet gained significant traction, to less than 80 per cent from mid-June to midJuly, when delta began outcompeting all other variants of the virus. Effectiveness against hospitalisation and death showed barely any decline during the entire period, the Washington Post reported. Vaccine effectiveness in preventing Covid-related hospitalisation dropped to 80 per cent among adults aged above 65 years.