Most US Adults Are Declining COVID Boosters As CDC Warns Of Health Risks: ‘Relatively Little Protection’

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that individuals who have received their COVID-19 booster doses may possess limited protection against hospitalization compared to those who remain unvaccinated.

The study, which analyzed over 85,000 hospitalizations of individuals exhibiting symptoms similar to COVID-19 across various states, has prompted discussions about the efficacy of booster shots. Although Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician from Scottsdale, Arizona, was not directly involved in the CDC study, she reviewed its findings and provided insights to Fox News.

Dr. Johnson highlighted the positive aspect that the mRNA vaccine offers effective protection against severe outcomes of COVID-19, such as hospitalization and critical illness. However, she also noted that the durability of this protection is not particularly robust. According to her evaluation, vaccine effectiveness for preventing COVID-19 hospitalization declined from 62% at two months after vaccination to 24% at four to six months. On the other hand, the effectiveness in preventing critical illness remained at 50% during the four to six months post-vaccination period.

“For adults, the vaccine effectiveness dropped from 62% at two months after vaccination to 24% at four to six months for protection against COVID-19 hospitalization,” Johnson said.

“Durability was better for preventing critical COVID-19 disease, at 50% at four to six months after vaccination.”

It was observed that the vaccine’s effectiveness persisted for longer periods in individuals without compromised immune systems, whereas those with weakened immune systems experienced reduced durability of protection. These findings indicate that the vaccine’s impact on mitigating the severity of COVID-19 or preventing long-term complications may diminish over time.

The CDC, taking these factors into account, supports updated recommendations that include the provision of additional optional booster doses for specific high-risk populations. The organization emphasizes the importance of all eligible individuals staying up to date with the recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedules.

Despite the CDC’s recommendation in September 2022 that all vaccinated individuals aged 12 and older should receive a booster dose, a significant majority of the American population has not done so. As of May 10, 2023, only 20.5% of U.S. adults had received a booster dose, and a majority of them had received their last vaccine dose more than a year ago, according to the CDC’s study findings.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, expressed concern over the low uptake of booster doses among adults, particularly those belonging to high-risk groups such as the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases. He emphasized the importance of individuals in these categories receiving a booster shot if they have not already done so.

While the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to decline in the United States, Dr. Siegel cautioned that the virus remains a persistent threat. He highlighted the current significant outbreak in China and stressed the need for ongoing precautions and immunization efforts.

Dr. Siegel acknowledged the population’s immunity, which has been bolstered by both prior infections and vaccinations, but emphasized that the effectiveness of the vaccine in reducing the severity of COVID-19 and preventing long-term complications diminishes over time, particularly after a year.

The study specifically examined the durability of protection provided by the bivalent mRNA vaccine against hospitalization and critical illness resulting from COVID-19. Dr. Johnson explained that while individuals who have previously contracted COVID-19 possess some level of natural immunity, the vaccine offers additional benefits by providing broader coverage, protecting against various viral variants.

{Matzav.com}