Public health impact of covid-19 vaccines in the US: observational study. (27th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suthar, Amitabh Bipin; Wang, Jing; Seffren, Victoria; Wiegand, Ryan E; Griffing, Sean; Zell, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 377(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-27
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069317
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the impact of vaccine scale-up on population level covid-19 mortality and incidence in the United States. Design: Observational study. Setting: US county level case surveillance and vaccine administration data reported from 14 December 2020 to 18 December 2021. Participants: Residents of 2558 counties from 48 US states. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was county covid-19 mortality rates (deaths/100 000 population/county week). The secondary outcome was incidence of covid-19 (cases/100 000 population/county week). Incidence rate ratios were used to compare rates across vaccination coverage levels. The impact of a 10% improvement in county vaccination coverage (defined as at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine among adults ≥18 years of age) was estimated During the eras of alpha and delta variant predominance, the impact of very low (0-9%), low (10-39%), medium (40-69%), and high (≥70%) vaccination coverage levels was compared. Results: In total, 30 643 878 cases of covid-19 and 439 682 deaths associated with covid-19 occurred over 132 791 county weeks. A 10% improvement in vaccination coverage was associated with an 8% (95% confidence interval 8% to 9%) reduction in mortality rates and a 7% (6% to 8%) reduction in incidence. Higher vaccination coverage levels were associated with reduced mortality and incidence rates during the eras of alpha and delta variant predominance. Conclusions: Higher vaccination coverage was associated with lower rates of population level covid-19 mortality and incidence in the US.