As the county continues to make steady progress decreasing transmission rates associated with the Omicron surge, the stark differences in COVID-19 outcomes between residents who are vaccinated and those who are not remain pronounced with unvaccinated residents significantly more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to vaccinated residents.
Through the week ending on Jan. 15, unvaccinated residents were 12 times more likely to die when compared to vaccinated residents. These differences in COVID-19 mortality outcomes were magnified for older age groups. For residents older than 50, the risk of dying significantly increased among those individuals who were unvaccinated. The 30-day death rate for unvaccinated residents between the ages of 50-64 was more than 15 times higher compared to fully vaccinated residents. For individuals 65 and older, unvaccinated residents were 24 times more likely to die compared to vaccinated residents.
And among the very small number of vaccinated and boosted individuals who died, 52 percent had an immunocompromising medical condition as a comorbidity.
While vaccination status played a substantial role in the likelihood of severe outcomes for COVID-19 illness, poverty was also associated with a significantly increased risk of dying.
According to recent Public Health data, residents living in low-resourced communities were more than twice as likely to die from Covid-19 related complications compared to residents who lived in affluent communities.
Through Feb. 4, the 14-day age-adjusted death rate in parts of the county where more than 30 percent of the population lived at, or below, the federal poverty line was nine deaths per 100,000 residents. This was more than two times higher than in affluent communities with less than 10 percent of residents living at, or below, the poverty line where the 14-day adjusted death rate was four deaths per 100,000 residents.
To reduce spread and keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to:
• Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
• Remain home when sick, isolate if they test positive and quarantine if they were in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com.
