New HHS Report: COVID-19 Vaccinations in 2021 Linked to More than 650,000 Fewer COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Over 300,000 Fewer Deaths Among Medicare Beneficiaries, Underscoring Importance of Getting Updated COVID-19 Vaccines This Fall.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that the COVID-19 vaccination program, which has gotten over 90 percent of seniors fully vaccinated and over 70 percent of seniors a booster shot, is linked to more than 650,000 fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and more than 300,000 fewer deaths among seniors and other Americans enrolled in Medicare.

The study, which was conducted by researchers with HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), underscores the importance of Americans – particularly seniors and others at high-risk of serious outcomes – getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall.

“This report reaffirms what we have said all along: COVID-19 vaccines save lives and prevent hospitalizations,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We now have updated COVID vaccines designed to protect you against the Omicron strain of COVID that makes up almost all COVID cases in the U.S. 

This post is an excerpt from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services media release, New HHS Report: COVID-19 Vaccinations in 2021 Linked to More than 650,000 Fewer COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Over 300,000 Fewer Deaths Among Medicare Beneficiaries, Underscoring Importance of Getting Updated COVID-19 Vaccines This Fall.