US Leads in Omicron Deaths-A Dubious Distinction
Nine hundred thousand (900,000) Americans dead from COVID-19. This is a milestone that seemed unlikely to be reached a year ago. Nonetheless, here we are. Unfortunately, we have sentiments from “they would have died anyway” and “I am through with COVID-19” to “we would not be here if you all had been vaccinated”, and everything in between. The undisputable statistical bottom-line is that the vast majority of deaths since the US has had an adequate supply of available, safe, and effective vaccines have occurred in those who have chosen to remain unvaccinated. The Omicron variant which emerged beginning in early December 2021 was not kind to the unvaccinated. This variant was much more contagious resulting in the sheer numbers of cases exceeding prior records. The hospitalization peaks occurred later in the surge than prior variants but nevertheless surpassed them. The deaths have now peeked but remain very unacceptably elevated. The 100,000-interval death increase took eleven weeks to get to 800,000 as opposed to it taking only seven weeks from mid-December to reach this grim 900,000 milestone. This dramatic acceleration in deaths was due to the Delta variant initially and then the Omicron variant. It falls on deaf ears that if you are unvaccinated, you are more susceptible.
The latest data in American seniors over sixty-five is that if you have gotten two doses of your vaccination, you are twenty times less likely to die from Covid-19 compared to if you are unvaccinated. Twelve percent of this age group is not fully vaccinated and 43% have not received their booster. Compare this to England where only 4% of its seniors are unvaccinated and only 9% are un-boosted. The US and our archrival Russia have similar percentages of citizens who declare that they will never get a vaccination. With these attitudes in mind, it is no wonder that the US death rate from COVID-19 far outraces all other wealthy countries. It did not have to be this bad! The numbers are less dramatic in younger individuals but nevertheless the hospitalization surge over the last seven weeks remains to be driven by the unvaccinated.
We must not give up on this public health fight. Every positive event that may be helpful in convincing the skeptical must be emphasized. One of these is the recent full approval of the Moderna vaccine for those 18 years and older. The fact that the Moderna vaccine is no longer being administered under an Emergency Use Authorization, but under full approval, may help to convert some. This two-dose vaccine joins its fellow mRNA vaccine by Pfizer in this full approval class. Hopefully as more adults feel comfortable about the vaccinations, we will be able to chip into the abysmal numbers of unvaccinated children.
Our kids under five were severely affected by this Omicron wave as were other children. Even though the Pfizer vaccine is available to children 5-11 years old, only 19% have been fully vaccinated and 28% have received their first dose of the EUA available Pfizer vaccine. Up until now it was unknown when children under five would be eligible for the vaccination. Just yesterday, February 1,2022 Pfizer requested that the FDA allow under EUA their vaccine to be administered to children under five. The proposed dosage recommended is one-tenth (3 mcg) of the dose given to those who are twelve and up. A two-shot regimen is being suggested. A decision will not be made until the end of February.
The case count from the Omicron variant rose extremely fast, crested, and is now fallen with the same rate of change. The US did not manage this variant as well as our European allies. Specifically, England saw its deaths rise to 20% of last winter’s surge and the hospitalizations rose 50% compared to so many of our hospitals being overwhelmed. The difference being a more widespread acceptance of the vaccination program. Rest assured that another variant is coming. We will eventually be attacked by one that is more contagious and more virulent. Even before this happens, we will settle into just living with this coronavirus and tolerate a baseline endemic level of involvement. More unvaccinated Americans will die in both instances.
