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According to a study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest Omicron boosters are 84% effective in preventing hospitalization from Covid-19 in adults age 65 and older compared to those who were not vaccinated.
According to the CDC, seniors who received the Omicron booster had 73% more protection against hospitalization than those who received only two or more of the original vaccines.
The study was conducted from September to November when Omicron BA.5 and the more immuno-evasive BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 variants were dominant. About 800 seniors with a median age of 76 years were included in the analysis.
In a large study that looked at more than 15,000 adults aged 18 and older, Omicron Booster was 57% effective in preventing hospitalizations. Adults who received the booster had 38% more protection compared to those who received only the original shots.
No study has examined how well people are protected against hospitalization if they are vaccinated and have natural immunity from a previous Covid infection.
A previous study by the CDC found boosters Less than 50% effective in preventing mild disease Among most age groups. But leading scientists and public health experts say the shots’ effectiveness against hospitalizations is definitely higher.
U.S. health officials have repeatedly urged everyone eligible to receive an Omicron booster ahead of the holidays. But the administration is particularly focused on making sure vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, are up-to-date on their Covid vaccinations.
Dr Ashish Jha, head of the White House’s Covid Task Force, has said that the majority of people dying from Covid-19 are elderly.
“Many older Americans are still not revving up their immune systems, they’re not protecting themselves,” Jha told reporters at the White House yesterday.
The Biden administration is launching a campaignVaccination in nursing homes, whose residents are highly vulnerable to severe Covid-19. Less than 50% of nursing home residents received an updated booster.
Overall, only 35% of seniors received the Omicron booster, while 14% of those 5 years and older received the updated shot, according to CDC data.
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