WASHINGTON, DC, Dec 5 — Reports have surfaced that show COVID deaths, particularly among older victims, have spiked among people who were vaccinated. But, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF] and other reliable sources, the cause is not the vaccine; it is simply because fewer people are getting booster shots.

KFF explains that “as of the week ending October 1, 2022, the United States has lost nearly 1.1 million lives to COVID-19, of which about 790,000 are people ages 65 and older. People 65 and older account for 16% of the total US population but 75% of all COVID deaths to date. Vaccinations, boosters, and treatments have led to a substantial decline in severe disease, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19, but with booster uptake lagging, deaths for older adults rose again during the summer of 2022.”

The KFF report suggests that the increased mortality rate has been mainly among the elderly who received the initial vaccine and even early booster doses, and then deciding not to get the newest boosters. It cites data from the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] that showed 92.4% of the 65-plus got the original vaccine, but fewer of them [71.1%] received the first booster shot and only 43.8% got the second booster dose. Meanwhile, the increased death rate is attributable to the more transmissible COVID iteration, the Omicron variant. New updated booster doses that deal specifically with the Omicron became available in September. The question is, will seniors get the new booster?

“Though the uptake in boosters among people 65 and older has been much higher than among people under 65 and they are more likely to say they will get the new booster as soon as possible, booster uptake still remains relatively low compared to primary vaccination among older adults. This, combined with the rise in deaths among adults 65 and older over the summer, raises questions about whether more can be done to encourage older adults to stay up to date on their vaccinations.”

The Centers for Disease Control [CDC] Covid Data Tracker tracks COVID-19 cases and deaths by vaccination status. It shows that:

• All vaccinated groups had overall lower risk of dying from COVID-19 and testing positive for COVID-19 compared with people who were unvaccinated.

• Based on early surveillance data, people who were vaccinated with an updated (bivalent) booster dose had lower rates of dying from COVID-19 and slightly lower rates of testing positive for COVID-19 compared with people who were vaccinated but had not received an updated booster dose.

• Age-standardized rates of cases and deaths by vaccination status and receipt of the updated (bivalent) booster dose do not account for other factors like the higher prevalence of previous infection among the unvaccinated and un-boosted groups; waning protection related to time since vaccination; and testing practices (such as use of at-home tests), underlying conditions, and prevention behaviors which likely differ by age and vaccination status. Additionally, any data recording errors that misclassify monovalent and updated (bivalent) boosters at the time of vaccine administration would make rates between the two groups appear more similar.

So, how do you talk to a friend or a loved one who is reluctant about the new COVID vaccine boosters when they become available? The CDC says to be aware that getting into an argument or debate of the pros and cons of vaccines is not going to work. But you can try getting into a conversation after doing your homework on whether it is safe or not. “Be compassionate and curious about the patient’s mixed feelings, both the part of them that wants to trust that getting a vaccine is important and safe and the other part that feels hesitant. It is important to show support for the patient to incorporate their personal values and the health needs of their family and community as they make their decision.”