CDC Study Finds Other Risk Factors Contribute To Small Number Of Vaccinated Patients In Hospitals

While doctors say people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to be hospitalized with the virus, it can still happen. 

A new CDC study, published in January 2022, looked at how often that happens. The study, conducted between December 2020 and March 2021, looked at 475 U.S. healthcare facilities with 1.2 million vaccinated patients. It found that those who are vaccinated and ended up hospitalized with the virus had at one to four risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

In the study, the CDC reported that the following were associated with higher odds for severe COVID-19 outcomes: age (65+), immunosuppression, diabetes, and chronic kidney, cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, and liver disease.

What's concerning to Dr. Dale Bratzler with OU Health is that Oklahoma is near the top of half the risk factors. "Oklahoma's 4th in the nation for diabetes, 25th in the nation with chronic kidney disease, 9th in the nation for stroke, 1st in the nation for cardiac disease, 2nd for pulmonary disease, and 5th in the nation for chronic liver disease," he said during a Friday press conference.

The good news is that the study found those who are vaccinated are well-protected with just 0.15% ending up in the ICU and 0.33% percent at risk of dying. The researchers behind this study stress that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death.