Fully Vaccinated Are You Still at Risk of Severe COVID?
Just because you have been vaccinated for COVID-19 does not mean you should not take precautions against infection. Most the young vaccinated healthy individuals that have contracted the infection generally have milder symptoms and much fewer need for hospitalization than those who are unvaccinated.
Studies have showed that a significant proportion of all fully vaccinated adults who died of COVID-19 had at least four risk factors associated with severe outcomes.
In addition to older age (65 and up) and being immunosuppressed, having chronic renal, heart, lung, neurologic, or liver diseases, as well as diabetes, were all associated with higher odds of severe COVID outcomes, and 77.8% of fully vaccinated adults who died had at least four of these risk factors, reported Sameer Kadri, MD, of the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
However, there were no increased odds of severe outcomes associated with sex, race/ethnicity, time since primary vaccination, or whether the infection occurred during the Delta variant wave.
Kadri and team examined data from 465 U.S. healthcare facilities in the Premier Healthcare Database Special COVID-19 Release from December 2020 to October 2021, which included adults who were either fully vaccinated, received a third dose as part of their primary series, or received a booster dose after their primary series. Severe outcomes were defined as hospitalization with acute respiratory failure, non-invasive ventilation, ICU admission, and death.
Overall, 1,228,664 adults completed a primary vaccination series, and of those, 2,246 contracted COVID-19. Of these, 327 were hospitalized, 189 had a severe outcome, and 36 had a COVID-related death.
Not surprisingly, older age was associated with a higher risk of death, as was immunosuppression. Of the six conditions, chronic pulmonary disease, liver disease, and kidney disease, were associated with the highest odds of severe outcomes.
Studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals have shown that unvaccinated people are about six times more likely to test positive than vaccinated people, nine times more likely to be hospitalized, and 14 times more likely to die from COVID-related complications, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD said.
“Infections among the unvaccinated continue to drive this pandemic, hospitalizations, and deaths — tragically, at a time when we have vaccines that can provide incredible protection,” Walensky added.
Walensky said COVID vaccines are making it possible for people to safely gather for Thanksgiving celebrations, unlike last year.
“If you or your family members are not yet vaccinated, please consider the benefits of vaccination,” she said. “Roll up your sleeves and get protected or boosted, especially if you will be around those who are at higher risk or children under the age of five who are not yet eligible for vaccination.”
Remember, if you don’t have the above risk factors still take infection precautions to keep you from getting the infection and spreading it to those who are at higher risk of dying from the illness even if they have had their vaccinations. This would involve masking up, social distancing and washing or disinfecting of the hands. Personally, especially at work in the emergency room as a physician I take all the precautions knowing I belong to the high risk group even if I am fully vaccinated.
