CDC Says 44% of People Hospitalized With COVID Had Third Dose or Booster

The following article was published in Medscape Nurses

By Jay Croft

September 07, 2022

Almost half the people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 last spring had been fully vaccinated and received a third dose or booster shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Unvaccinated adults were 3.4 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who were vaccinated, the CDC said.

The CDC report considered hospitalization numbers from March 20 to May 31, when the omicron subvariant BA.2 was the dominant strain. Researchers found 39.1% of patients had received a primary vaccination series and at least one booster or additional dose; 5% were fully vaccinated with two boosters.

"Adults should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses," the CDC said. "Multiple nonpharmaceutical and medical prevention measures should be used to protect persons at high risk for severe SARS-CoV-2, regardless of vaccination status."

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions who become infected with the coronavirus are more likely to be hospitalized.

The study also found that hospitalization rates among people over 65 increased threefold over the study period. Rates among people under 65 rose 1.7 times.

Source:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC: "Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations Among Adults During SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Variant Predominance — COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network, 14 States, June 20, 2021–May 31, 2022"

TABLE. Demographic characteristics and clinical interventions and outcomes among nonpregnant adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized with COVID-19* during periods of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta), Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 predominance† (N = 8,266) — COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network, 14 states,§ June 20, 2021–May 31, 2022¶

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