Boosted Worse Off Than Vaccinated in Many States, Data Show

Conservative News DailyJanuary 5, 2023

People in the United States who have received COVID-19 boosters in many states are more likely than those who have gotten just a primary series to get infected, receive hospital care, and die, according to an Epoch Times investigation.

Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among the boosted have been increasing since the booster shots were first introduced in 2021. The boosters were promoted as bolstering protection against adverse outcomes. But, compared to the vaccinated who have not received any boosters, boosted people are testing positive, being hospitalized, and dying at higher levels in many states, according to the review, which went over data in the first two quarters of 2022.

In California, for instance, the boosted population made up 72 percent of the COVID-19 cases among vaccinated people in June. In Vermont that month, the boosted population made up 90 percent of the COVID-19 deaths among the vaccinated.

The number of boosted people has continued to rise since the extra shots were first cleared in 2021. But in some of the states, one or more metrics among the boosted exceed their population.

In Wisconsin, boosted people made up 43 percent of the cases, 43 percent of the hospitalizations, and 46 percent of the deaths in June—well above the boosted population, which was 35 percent of the state as of late August.

“It is unassailable that a very large fraction of highly inoculated [people] are among those being hospitalized or dying,” Dr. Robert Malone, who helped invent the messenger RNA technology that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines utilize, told The Epoch Times. “So, at a minimum, the effectiveness in preventing hospitalization or death does not appear to be aligned with the official policy position.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have continued to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for virtually all Americans, including multiple boosters, stating that the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks. New, untested boosters replaced the old ones in the fall, but the primary series is still comprised of the old vaccines.

Higher Among Boosted

In 18 of the 19 states that provided or already list sufficient data, the boosted made up a majority of one or more metrics among the vaccinated, The Epoch Times found through reviewing publicly available data and public records requests after reporting how vaccinated people were more likely, when compared to the unvaccinated, to get sick, hospitalized, or die in a number of states.

In seven states, the boosted population even made up a majority of all three metrics—cases, hospitalizations, and deaths—among the vaccinated.

All data are from 2022. Only percentages or numbers were available for some states. Data for June were preferred, followed by data for July. Rates were adjusted for age. Fully vaccinated refers to people who received a primary series and no booster. Boosted refers to people who received one or more boosters, unless noted. Unvaccinated are included as a reference. An explanation of the bolded lines is below the list.

Arizona (week ending June 5)	Rates per 100,000
Cases	Unvaccinated: 638.4	Fully vaccinated: 156.6	Boosted: 278.3
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 50.5	Fully vaccinated: 5.3	Boosted: 4.5
Deaths (week ending May 22)	Unvaccinated: 6.2	Fully vaccinated: 0.50	Boosted: 0.53
Vaccinated (as of June 5)	Fully vaccinated: 62 percent	Boosted: 27 percent

California (June)	Numbers
Cases	Unvaccinated: 215,889	Fully vaccinated: 58,452	Boosted: 149,121
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 5,057	Fully vaccinated: 1,677	Boosted: 2,987
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 413	Fully vaccinated: 100	Boosted: 189
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 18)	Fully vaccinated: 71.9 percent	Boosted: 58.7 percent

Colorado	Rates per 100,000	Four-week average as of June 26
Cases	Unvaccinated: 406	Fully vaccinated: 162.6	Boosted: 270
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 12.4	Fully vaccinated: 5.9	Boosted: 4.7
Deaths (as of June 1, rates per million)	Unvaccinated: 55	Fully vaccinated: 33.1	Boosted: 17
Vaccinated (as of June 27)	Fully vaccinated: 71.4 percent	Boosted: 37 percent

Delaware (May 30-July 3)	Numbers	Only boosted and nonboosted were provided
Cases	Nonboosted: 6,524	Boosted: 3,154
Hospitalizations	Nonboosted: 451	Boosted: 196
Deaths	Nonboosted: 6	Boosted: 11
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 29)	Boosted: 42.4 percent

Georgia (June 4–June 25)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Not fully vaccinated: 40,613	Fully vaccinated: 18,169	Boosted: 24,424
Hospitalizations	Not fully vaccinated: 1,231	Fully vaccinated: 429	Boosted: 446
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 59	Fully vaccinated: 26	Boosted: 35
Rates per 100,000 (June 25)
Cases	Not fully vaccinated: 243.7	Fully vaccinated: 77.7	Boosted: 243.2
Hospitalizations	Not fully vaccinated: 7.4	Fully vaccinated: 1.9	Boosted: 3.7
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 0.4	Fully vaccinated: 0.1	Boosted: 0.5
Vaccinated (as of June 25)	Fully vaccinated: 56.9 percent	Boosted: 24.5 percent

Idaho (June 5–July 2)	Numbers
Cases	Unvaccinated: 5,766	Fully vaccinated: 2,882	Boosted: 3,892
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 78	Fully vaccinated: 48	Boosted: 42
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 28	Fully vaccinated: 22	Boosted: 2
Vaccinated (as of June 29)	Fully vaccinated: 52 percent	Boosted: 23 percent

Kentucky (June)	Numbers
Cases	Unvaccinated: 19,016	Fully vaccinated: 8,291	Boosted: 10,223
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 228	Fully vaccinated: 108	Boosted: 155
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 27	Fully vaccinated: 24	Boosted: 29
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 22)	Fully vaccinated: 58 percent	Boosted: 27 percent

Massachusetts (June 5–July 3)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Unvaccinated: 15,029	Fully vaccinated: 6,806	Boosted: 18,756
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 134	Boosted: 411
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 30	Fully vaccinated: 41	Boosted: 125
Rates per 100,000 (June 19–June 25)
Cases	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 74.5	Boosted: 155.32	Second boosted: 165.99
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 1.31	Boosted: 3.29	Second boosted: 6.25
Deaths	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 0.35	Boosted: 1.17	Second boosted: 1.11
Vaccinated (as of July 28)	Fully vaccinated: 77 percent	Boosted: 44 percent

Minnesota (June 5–July 3)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Not fully vaccinated: 7,983	Fully vaccinated: 6,484	Boosted: 19,437
Hospitalizations	Not fully vaccinated: 517	Fully vaccinated: 297	Boosted: 871
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 20	Fully vaccinated: 16	Boosted: 95
Rates per 100,000 (week of June 5)
Cases	Not fully vaccinated: 238.2	Fully vaccinated: 182.2	Boosted: 249.7
Hospitalizations	Not fully vaccinated: 20.9	Fully vaccinated: 11.5	Boosted: 7.6
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 1.3	Fully vaccinated: 0.52	Boosted: 0.59
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 25)	Fully vaccinated: 65 percent	“Up to date”: 31 percent

Mississippi (April 1–Aug. 15).	Percentages	Case and hospitalization data not provided
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 36.6 percent	Fully vaccinated: 24.8 percent	Boosted: 38.6 percent
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 15)	Fully vaccinated: 60 percent	Boosted: 29 percent

Nebraska (June 26–July 23)	Numbers	Death data not provided
Cases	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 2,928	Boosted: 5,497
Hospitalizations (June 22–July 21)	Unvaccinated: not provided	Fully vaccinated: 37	Boosted: 76
Vaccinated (as of July 20)	Fully vaccinated: 64 percent	Boosted: 34 percent

New Jersey (June 4–June 11)	Numbers and rates	Hospitalization and death data not provided
Cases	Unvaccinated: 8,376	Fully vaccinated: 3,859	Boosted: 7,648
Rates per 100,000
Cases	Unvaccinated: 329.6	Fully vaccinated: 116.4	Boosted: 222.8
Vaccinated (as of June 11)	Fully vaccinated: 76.3 percent	Boosted: 37 percent

New Mexico (July 4–Aug. 1)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Unvaccinated: 9,316	Fully vaccinated: 4,584	Boosted: 10,666
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 323	Fully vaccinated: 134	Boosted: 264
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 22	Fully vaccinated: 11	Boosted: 34
Rates per 100,000
Cases	Unvaccinated: 1,834	Fully vaccinated: 818	Boosted: 1,218
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 91	Fully vaccinated: 31	Boosted: 23
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 7	Fully vaccinated: 3	Boosted: 2.6
Vaccinated (as of June 23)	Fully vaccinated: 72.1 percent	Boosted: 41.8 percent

Oregon (July)	Numbers	Hospitalization and death data not provided
Cases	Unvaccinated: 18,622	Fully vaccinated: 6,992	Boosted: 14,388
Vaccinated (as of July 20)	Fully vaccinated: 69 percent	Boosted: 39 percent

Utah (June 5–June 26)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Unvaccinated: 8,472	Fully vaccinated: 6,539	Boosted: 11,317
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 297	Fully vaccinated: 208	Boosted: 415
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 27	Fully vaccinated: 0 (listed as “under 5” for parts of time period)	Boosted: 13
Rates per 100,000
Cases	Unvaccinated: 1,267	Fully vaccinated: 707	Boosted: 1,117
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 60	Fully vaccinated: 30	Boosted: 31
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 7	Fully vaccinated: 2	Boosted: 1
Vaccinated (as of July 24)	Fully vaccinated: 63 percent	Boosted: 30 percent

Vermont (June)	Numbers
Cases	Not fully vaccinated: 863	Fully vaccinated: 567	Boosted: 1,396
Hospitalizations	Not fully vaccinated: 6	Fully vaccinated: 6	Boosted: 26
Deaths	Not fully vaccinated: 1	Fully vaccinated: 1	Boosted: 9
Vaccinated (as of June 29)	Fully vaccinated: 82 percent	Boosted: 51 percent

Wisconsin (June)	Numbers and rates
Cases	Unvaccinated: 17,071	Fully vaccinated: 10,295	Boosted: 21,407
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 351	Fully vaccinated: 205	Boosted: 429
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 35	Fully vaccinated: 21	Boosted: 48
Rates per 100,000
Cases	Unvaccinated: 836.6	Fully vaccinated: 306.6	Boosted: 803.5
Hospitalizations	Unvaccinated: 24	Fully vaccinated: 4.8	Boosted: 9.2
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 3.2	Fully vaccinated: 0.5	Boosted: 0.9
Vaccinated (as of Aug. 30)	Fully vaccinated: 61.6 percent	Boosted: 35.4 percent

Wyoming (June)	Numbers	Hospitalization data not provided
Cases	Unvaccinated: 3,706	Fully vaccinated: 970	Boosted: 1,351
Deaths	Unvaccinated: 8	Fully vaccinated: 3	Boosted: 3
Vaccinated (as of July 1)	Fully vaccinated: 42.7 percent	Boosted: 20.9 percent

Notes: Case, hospitalization, and death data from state health departments. Most vaccination data is from the states, supplemented by other sources, primarily the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bold lines denote when the proportion of a metric among the boosted exceeds the population of boosted.

Adjusted Data

Some experts say one can’t derive much from state-level data, particularly if it has not been adjusted.

“The problem with these data is that there are so many missing variables which could confound (bias) the outcomes being followed,” Dr. Andrew Bostom, a former associate professor of medicine at Brown University, told The Epoch Times via email.

For data regarding vaccination, it’s best to utilize randomized or randomized controlled trials, he added, pointing to a paper that found vaccinated people were more likely to suffer a serious adverse event after analyzing data from the original clinical trials.

Some states did adjust data for age, accounting for the fact that older people are more likely to receive not only the original vaccine series, but boosters. All eight states which provided or listed age-adjusted rates showed higher rates for at least one metric among the boosted when compared to the fully vaccinated. In Wisconsin, for example, the rate of hospitalizations among the boosted was 9.2 per 100,000—nearly double the fully vaccinated.

In two of the states—Minnesota and New Mexico—rates for cases among the boosted were even higher than the unvaccinated.

Pfizer and Moderna did not respond to requests for comment.

Not Higher Among Boosted

To be included in the review, states needed to report figures for at least one metric broken down by vaccination status, and a breakdown by time. States that would only provide data since the beginning of the pandemic, or would not provide data by daily, weekly, or monthly increments, were excluded. So were states that would not separate the boosted from the fully vaccinated.

In the other states with sufficient data, none of the metrics were higher in the boosted compared with the fully vaccinated.

North Carolina (July 31–Aug. 6).
Case data not provided.

Hospitalizations
Unvaccinated: 50.6 percent
Fully vaccinated: 29.4 percent
Boosted: 19.9 percent

Deaths (rate per 100,000 for four weeks through July 30)
Unvaccinated: 2.23
Fully vaccinated: 0.45
Boosted: 0.26

The data covers a period of time before new boosters were available. The old boosters became unavailable in the fall when regulators authorized the new, bivalent boosters. There remains no clinical trial data for the new boosters but real-world studies have estimated they provide suboptimal protection against infection and good protection, at least initially, against hospitalization.

Negative Effectiveness

The data dovetails with a growing body of research that has detected negative vaccine effectiveness after a period of time and a higher likelihood of getting infected among people with more doses.

Researchers with the Cleveland Clinic, for instance, reported this month in a preprint study (pdf) that each successive dose heightened the chance a person tested positive.

The researchers called the finding “unexpected” and cast doubt on the “simplistic explanation” offered by some that people at higher risk from COVID-19 are more likely to receive more doses.

Another study, published in November (pdf), found people who received three doses of a vaccine tested positive more than people who received two doses.

“This finding suggests that the immune response against the primary omicron infection was compromised by differential immune imprinting in those who received a third booster dose, consistent with emerging laboratory science data,” the authors, including Laith Abu-Raddad, an infectious disease expert at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, wrote.

A growing number of researchers fear that people’s immune systems are trained by the shots to react to older virus strains. The shots targeted the original Wuhan strain for years. The updated shots, which are only available as boosters, target the Wuhan strain and a sublineage of the BA.4/BA.5 Omicron subvariants. Those subvariants are already being displaced by newer, more immune-evasive strains (pdf).

“The literature predicted that there was a high risk of exacerbation of immune imprinting using this booster strategy,” Malone said, “and the data are consistent with that.”