THE IMPACT OF VACCINATION ON COVID-19 INFECTION REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: On December 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia-like illness were attributed to a seafood wholesale market in the Wuhan province of China. On January 7, 2020, public health officials in China confirmed that these cases were caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, also referred to as covid-19. As of December 19, 2021, there have been approximately 827,246 deaths and 51,723,483 cases in the United States. Covid-9 has disproportionately affected the underserved communities. On December 14, 2020, the first coronavirus vaccine was given in United States to Sandra Lindsey, an ICU nurse, in New York City. As of December 19, 2021, approximately 241,205,528 or 72.7% of the population has received at least one dose and overall 203,727,446 or 61.4% of the population has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Mississippi has among the lowest rates of covid-19 vaccination with approximately 1,435,238 or 47% of population being fully vaccinated on December 17, 2021. METHODS: Medical records of all patients admitted at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Desoto, Mississippi. with a diagnosis of covid-19 infection between May 2021 and October 2021 were reviewed. EPIC electronic health records system was used to obtain the patient information. Covid-19 rapid antigen and PCR test results were used for analyzing the information. Patient charts were analyzed to retrieve specific vaccination information no vaccination, one vaccine, two vaccines, time of last vaccination. Only adults aged 18 years and older were included in this study. RESULTS: 180 of 187 inpatients admitted for Covid-19 infection denied any history of Covid-19 vaccination. 5 of 7 vaccinated patients admitted for Covid19 infection were immunocompromised (cancer chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy, etc). Only 2 of vaccinated patients admitted for Covid-19 infection were not immunocompromised. CONCLUSIONS: The best way to prevent coronavirus infection is to get vaccinated. Vaccination prevents mortality and severe illness from Covid-19 infection requiring inpatient hospitalizations. Our study at the largest tertiary care hospital in Desoto, Mississippi, finds that nearly all patients admitted with Covid-19 infection during our study period were either unvaccinated or immunocompromised. Our study reaffirms the that if enough people get vaccinated, the viral transmission rate will slow sand there will be less morbidity and mortality. People who are fully vaccinated are at a much lower risk of getting the virus. “Fully vaccinated” means you have had all doses of the vaccine and it has been at least 2 weeks since the last dose.