The CDC researchers attribute the shift in the age of patients diagnosed with the virus to decreased vaccination rates among young people.

Almost all Americans 65 years and older have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, compared to less than 70% of persons under the age of 40.

According to the data, Americans aged 18 to 49 accounted for 35.8 percent of Covid hospitalizations during what is referred to as the ‘Delta period.’

This is a significant increase from the 24.7 percent of hospitalizations attained by this age group before to the Delta.

The increase was almost completely seen by the unvaccinated, with those aged 18 to 49 accounting for 26.9 percent of hospitalizations in the pre-Delta era and 43.6 percent during the Delta period.

According to the researchers, this data emphasizes the need for vaccinations for young individuals, who are less likely to have Covid jab.

The CDC collected data from 14 states through the COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network, or COVID-NET, a system that collects Covid data statewide for use in research such as this.

The study included 5,951 hospitalizations from the ‘pre-Delta’ period from January to June 2021, before the Indian-born variant became the dominant variant in the US and 1,664 from the ‘Delta’ period from July and August 2021.

All participants were categorized into three groups age-wise, 18 to 49, aged 50 to 64 and those aged 65 or older.

Pre-Delta, the 65 and older age group accounted for 44.1 percent of Covid hospitalizations, followed by the 50-to-64 age group at 31.2 percent and the 18-to-49 age group at 24.7 percent.

However, during the Delta period, the numbers moved dramatically, and the 18 to 49 age group suddenly began accounting for the majority of hospitalizations.

During the Delta period, members in the youngest age group accounted for 35.8 percent of Covid hospitalizations.

People aged 50 to 64 accounted for 30.4 percent of hospitalizations – the lowest share – while those 65 and beyond accounted for 33.58 percent.

This shift was completely felt by uninfected individuals.

During the pre-Delta period, 5,900 cases were recorded, with 4,896 individuals being unvaccinated.

Prior to Delta, unvaccinated people aged 18 to 49 accounted for 26.9 percent of hospitalizations, but that percentage jumped to 43.6 percent during the Delta time.

There was also a little increase in the proportion of unvaccinated people aged 50 to 64 hospitalized, from 32.4 percent to 33.6 percent. 

However, older adults had a significant decline in their hospitalization rate.

Unvaccinated Americans aged 65 and older accounted for only 22.8 percent of hospitalizations during the Delta wave, down from 40.6 percent before to the Delta.

Vaccinated individuals, of whom 389 were hospitalised prior to Delta and 393 after, were stable when the highly contagious variety was introduced.

According to researchers, this sudden shift is linked to the vaccination rates of each age group.

Almost every American between 65 to 74 has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, as have 93 percent of those aged 75 or older.

While these age groups are at an increased risk of contracting the virus, vaccinations have been shown to be successful in reducing hospitalization and death in the majority of cases.

In comparison, younger generations have significantly lower vaccination rates.

Just under 70% of Americans aged 25 to 39 have received the vaccine, while 77% of Americans aged 40 to 49.

Without any extra protection when the Delta wave hit the nation, many younger people were unexpectedly hospitalized.

Image Credit: Getty

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