COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue to Drop, CDC Data Shows
Data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been steadily decreasing, following a slight increase in cases over the summer.
In the week ending on October 14, hospitalizations dropped by 5 percent. Emergency department visits also decreased by 11.9 percent, and reported case numbers saw a 0.7 percent decline. However, there was a 4.2 percent increase in deaths, which is expected as deaths typically lag behind case and hospitalization numbers.
The previous week, ending on October 7, saw an 8.2 percent decrease in hospitalizations, a 17.7 percent decrease in emergency visits, and a 0.8 percent decrease in reported cases. Deaths were down by 3.8 percent, according to the data.
Despite the consecutive drop in hospitalizations, the CDC issued a report earlier this month emphasizing that the virus remains a “public health threat” for older Americans, highlighting the importance of getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have approved the updated shots from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax.
Few Americans Taking Updated Shots
At the same time, the CDC warned of a potential “moderate COVID-19 wave” during the upcoming winter months, projecting that this year’s peak will match the hospitalization figures from last winter. The agency attributed the possibility of an earlier peak to reduced summer activity compared to previous years, as stated in September.
The CDC stated, “This increase could result from the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant with an increased ability to evade the body’s prior immunity, or from a severe influenza season combined with COVID-19 and RSV waves that are similar to last year, or, as we saw last year, an increase in RSV infections. A key factor is the timing of the peak number of hospitalizations associated with each disease and whether those peaks coincide.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), only about 3 percent of eligible Americans have received the updated COVID-19 booster shot, nearly two months after its rollout. The data shows that approximately 10 million people have taken the booster shot, an increase from 7 million the previous week.
U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (C), with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla to his left, receives one of the new COVID-19 vaccines at a CVS in Washington on Sept. 20, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“The administration remains committed to pulling every lever at its disposal during the fall respiratory vaccination campaign, encouraging the American public to stay up to date on their vaccines to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” said an HHS spokesperson. “As a result of these efforts, around 10 million Americans have been vaccinated since the updated vaccines were authorized and recommended last month.”
The decline in vaccine demand has led pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to revise its revenue guidance for the year, with a projected $9 billion decrease due to weakened demand. Sales of Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine are expected to be about $2 billion lower than previously anticipated.
Moderna, on the other hand, reiterated that its COVID-19 vaccine sales will range between $6 billion and $8 billion. However, it is still too early to predict the U.S. vaccination rate, as Moderna’s stock has plummeted by $7 billion in just a week and has dropped 83 percent since its peak in August 2021.
Analysts have expressed concerns about the declining vaccine sales for these pharmaceutical companies.
“COVID-19 vaccine revenue concerns should be at an all-time high right now,” said Hartaj Singh, an analyst at Oppenheimer. “A good third-quarter report should alleviate some of these fears. And positive guidance for potential revenues in 2024 could restore confidence in the stock.”
Meanwhile, several U.S. hospitals have recently lifted their COVID-19 mask mandates after reinstating them a few weeks ago. Some hospitals had reintroduced mandates over the summer, although they were not mandatory for patients or visitors, only for staff members.
Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest hospital group in New Jersey, has lifted its mask mandate for all hospitals except for Bayshore Medical Center, Old Bridge Medical Center, and Southern Ocean Medical Center, according to local media reports.
, could put a strain on healthcare systems. To address this, the U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that efforts are being made to ensure that anyone who wants a booster shot can easily access one. In light of this, here are three PAA related questions:
O ensuring that anyone who wants a booster shot can get one, and we are working to make the process as easy and convenient as possible,” said U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Boosters are an important tool in our fight against COVID-19, particularly as we navigate the potential challenges of the upcoming winter season.”
The CDC has been actively encouraging eligible individuals to get the updated COVID-19 booster shot, which is recommended for those who are at least six months past their initial vaccination. The booster shot is intended to strengthen the body’s immune response and provide further protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
Despite the CDC’s efforts, recent data shows that only a small percentage of eligible Americans have received the booster shot. This could potentially hinder the country’s ability to control the spread of COVID-19 and prevent a surge in hospitalizations during the winter months.
Health officials have warned that the combination of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, such as influenza
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