More strong evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are saving lives

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again now: COVID-19 vaccines save lives.

The latest strong evidence is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study that underscores the benefits of vaccination for older people and others at higher risk of severe COVID-19. It links COVID-19 vaccinations in 2021 with 650,000 fewer hospitalizations and more than 300,000 fewer deaths among individuals on Medicare. That represents reductions of 39% and 47%, respectively, in hospitalizations and deaths in this group.

On top of lives saved and hospitalizations prevented, the report notes, these reductions saved more than $16 billion in direct medical costs.

I encourage you to review this study and also to look at our monthly report on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status. In August, Arizonans who weren’t vaccinated were 18 times more likely to be hospitalized and 28 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than people who were up-to-date on vaccination.

This week, federal officials expanded availability of the new Omicron COVID-19 booster to kids 5 and older. That booster targets current variants that are extremely transmissible and adept at evading immune response. Up-to-date immune protection benefits everyone, but it’s especially important for older individuals and others with weakened immune systems and those around them.

If you aren’t up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination, I encourage you to change that today by finding a provider at azhealth.gov/FindVaccine and getting the Omicron COVID-19 booster. Vaccines offer the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

By Don Herrington|2022-10-14T09:19:37-07:00October 14th, 2022|Preparedness|Comments Off

About the Author: Don Herrington

Don Herrington, Interim Director, has been with ADHS since 2000. During this time he has served as the State’s Food Safety Manager, the Office Chief of Environmental Health, Bureau Chief of Epidemiology and Disease Control Services, Acting Assistant Director for Public Health Preparedness, Assistant Director for Public Health Preparedness. Herrington is currently the department’s Deputy Director for Planning and Operations. In this role he oversees policy development, hiring professional and support staff and the department’s budget. During his time in public health, Herrington has served on numerous councils, commissions and committees on behalf of the Director of ADHS, including Chair of the Arizona Sanitarians’ Council, Chair of the Arizona Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee, and as one of five voting members of the Arizona Emergency Response Commission.