CDC: COVID hospitalization rates higher for unvaccinated than boosted

Unvaccinated people, who contracted coronavirus during the Omicron wave, were 23 times more likely to be hospitalized, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Why it matters: The study, which examined data from Los Angeles County, found that incidence and hospitalization rates during the Omicron wave were "consistently highest" for unvaccinated people.

• The study underlined that staying "up to date" with coronavirus vaccination can profoundly decrease the likelihood of infection and hospitalization.

Zoom in: Unvaccinated people were 3.6 times more likely to contract the virus than fully-vaccinated people who got boosted, according to the study.

• The study also found that COVID-related hospitalizations were 5.3 times higher for unvaccinated people than those who were vaccinated but had not received a booster shot.
• Incidence and hospitalization rates remained lower among those who were fully vaccinated and received a booster dose, per the study.

What they're saying: "Efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccination and boosters are critical to preventing COVID-19–associated hospitalizations and severe outcomes," the CDC wrote in the study.

• "Ongoing COVID-19 surveillance with data linkages to vaccination ... are critical for monitoring vaccine effectiveness and increased protection from boosters, particularly during the Omicron predominant period."