• Athalia Christie, S Jane Henley, Linda Mattocks, Robyn Fernando, Amy Lansky, Farida B Ahmad, Jennifer Adjemian, Robert N Anderson, Alison M Binder, Kelly Carey, Deborah L Dee, Taylor Dias, William M Duck, Denise M Gaughan, Brianna Casey Lyons, A D McNaghten, Meeyoung M Park, Hannah Reses, Loren Rodgers, Katharina Van Santen, David Walker, and Michael J Beach.
• CDC COVID-19 Response Team.
• MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2021 Jun 11; 70 (23): 858-864.

AbstractThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, older U.S. adults have been at increased risk for severe COVID-19-associated illness and death (1). On December 14, 2020, the United States began a nationwide vaccination campaign after the Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended prioritizing health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities, followed by essential workers and persons at risk for severe illness, including adults aged ≥65 years, in the early phases of the vaccination program (2). By May 1, 2021, 82%, 63%, and 42% of persons aged ≥65, 50-64, and 18-49 years, respectively, had received ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. CDC calculated the rates of COVID-19 cases, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, and deaths by age group during November 29-December 12, 2020 (prevaccine) and April 18-May 1, 2021. The rate ratios comparing the oldest age groups (≥70 years for hospital admissions; ≥65 years for other measures) with adults aged 18-49 years were 40%, 59%, 65%, and 66% lower, respectively, in the latter period. These differential declines are likely due, in part, to higher COVID-19 vaccination coverage among older adults, highlighting the potential benefits of rapidly increasing vaccination coverage.

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