COVID-19 Mortality and Vaccine Coverage - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, January 6, 2022-March 21, 2022.

ABSTRACT

What is already known about this topic? COVID-19 vaccines are important tools to protect populations from severe disease and death. What is added by this report? Among persons aged ≥60 years in Hong Kong, 49%, had received ≥2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccination coverage declined with age. During January-March 2022, reported COVID-19-associated deaths rose rapidly in Hong Kong. Among these deaths, 96% occurred in persons aged ≥60 years; within this age group, the risk for death was 20 times lower among those who were fully vaccinated compared with those who were unvaccinated. What are the implications for public health practice? Efforts to identify and address gaps in age-specific vaccination coverage can help prevent high mortality from COVID-19, especially in older adults.