The recent analysis suggests that if more Americans receive COVID-19 booster shots by the end of this year, it could potentially prevent approximately 90,000 deaths during the winter season. However, if the current pace of booster shots continues, the US could see a peak of over 1,000 COVID-19 deaths per day during winter.
According to a study published by the Commonwealth Fund, if booster shots are administered in a higher volume, like Grippeimpfstoff rates or reaching 80%, it could prevent around 90,000 deaths and over 936,000 hospitalizations from October 1 to March 31. On the contrary, if the current rate persists, a possible winter peak could result in approximately 16,000 hospitalizations and 1,200 deaths per day.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around two-thirds of the US population (67.9%) had received the full initial COVID-19 vaccine series by early August 2022. However, only about one-third (33.3%) of the population had received a booster dose as of the same date.
Though booster shots have been widely discussed and approved, some objections persist due to misinformation and the belief that they are unnecessary. However, research suggests that booster shots are crucial for maintaining high protection against severe disease and death. The updated COVID-19 booster from Moderna is reportedly effective against all current variants and provides significant protection against severe illness and death, including the BA.2.86 strain. Similar findings have been observed with other booster shots, demonstrating their efficacy against symptomatic disease, hospitalization, and critical illness.
In conclusion, an increased emphasis on booster shot uptake could significantly reduce winter deaths in the US and mitigate the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Given the positive effects of booster shots on protecting against severe illness and death, it's wise to prioritize boosters to ensure continuous protection against the virus.
