Covid-19: Unvaccinated face 11 times risk of death from delta variant, CDC data show
BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2282 (Published 16 September 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;374:n2282Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic
- Owen Dyer
- Montreal
Unvaccinated Americans have died at 11 times the rate of those fully vaccinated since the delta variant became the dominant strain, indicate surveillance data gathered over the summer by the US Centers for Disease Control.
Vaccinated people were 10 times less likely to be admitted to hospital and five times less likely to be infected than unvaccinated people, found one study that tracked adults across 13 states and cities.1
Levels of protection were lower than were conferred by vaccines offered at the end of spring, the study found. Vaccine efficacy has declined since the delta variant became dominant around 20 June. The decline in efficacy against hospital admission or death was small, but the protection offered against infection has slipped more significantly.
From 4 April to 20 June unvaccinated people died from covid-19 at 16.6 times the rate …
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