Did Omicron Cause A Surge In Deaths In Vaccinated People?
The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak, has caused more deaths among vaccinated and boosted people.
Rising Fatilities In Vaccinated People
A Washington Post analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that COVID fatalities among the vaccinated individuals rose during the omicron wave. In September (during the delta wave), COVID fatalities in vaccinated people were at 23%. In January and February, the figure jumped to 42% when omicron became the dominant strain.
The deaths were mostly in elderly and immunocompromised people. Collected data showed that nearly two-thirds of those who passed away during the period were 75 years of age and older.
The data seemingly confirmed previous theories that omicron and its subvariants could be far more infectious than earlier strains. The surge in fatalities also coincided with previous study findings on how vaccine protection tends to wane over time, making it possible for the vaccinated people to once again be at risk of contracting the virus and suffering serious infection.
Despite the alarming report, experts pointed out that vaccines are still useful amid the ongoing pandemic. The fatality risk was also higher in the unvaccinated population since they have less protection against the virus and its variants.
“It’s still absolutely more dangerous to be unvaccinated than vaccinated,” the University of California at Irvine public health professor Andrew Noymer was quoted by MarketWatch as saying.
New Coronavirus Waves
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise again in the United States, based on the latest figures. Transmissions soared in most states like Washington, Mississippi, New York, and more recorded a rise of more than 50% in cases compared with the previous week.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that the average daily hospitalizations in the country went up by about 10% since last week. The culprit is believed to be the BA.2 subvariant of omicron, as per CNN.
And it’s not just the U.S. that is experiencing the upward trend. BA.2 and other SARS-CoV-2 variants are spreading around the world. The medical community is on high alert while monitoring the newer strains that could cause new coronavirus waves.
