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accessHealthNews.net
November 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 51
S
ince the beginning of the COVID-19
outbreak across the U.S. in late January of
2020, ever-changing information about the
disease, safety measures, and vaccine efficacy
has stirred fear and uncertainty. Though some
cases of adverse side effects have followed
COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as an extremely
low relative number of deaths (0.0022%),
few studies have examined mortality across
vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Non-COVID-19
Mortality Risk, a study conducted between
Dec. 2020 and July 2021, came in response
to safety concerns surrounding the vaccine.
Despite the outbreak of the highly transmissible
Delta variant within the same time frame, daily
vaccination rates fell 78% between April and
September of 2021. The study of 11 million
people was conducted to evaluate and
compare mortality rates between vaccinated
and unvaccinated participants.
Researchers found that COVID-19 vaccine
recipients had lower rates of mortality not
associated with COVID-19 (non-COVID-19
mortality) than unvaccinated people. The
results of the study reinforce the safety profile of
currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the
U.S.
With more than 192.9 million people fully
vaccinated as of Nov. 3, 2021, the proof is
in the numbers: there is no increased risk for
mortality among COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine safety,
common myths, and facts about the vaccines.
BOOSTER SHOTS
Certain people are now eligible to receive
a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, also
referred to as a booster shot. Eligible individuals
may choose which vaccine they receive as a
booster dose with approval from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to
mix and match vaccine dosing.
As of November 3, 2021, 20.6 million people
have received a booster dose of the vaccine.
Those who are recommended to receive a
booster shot include:
• People 65 years and older.
• People 50-64 years old with underlying
medical conditions.
• People 18 years and older who live in long-
term care settings.
According to the CDC, for the nearly 15 million
people who got the Johnson & Johnson
(Janssen) vaccine, booster shots are also
recommended for those who are 18 and older
and who were vaccinated two or more months
ago.
People who received the Moderna or Pfizer
vaccines are eligible to receive booster shots,
especially if immunocompromised.
COVID-19 booster shots are administered
anywhere the COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Individuals do not need to get their booster
shot at the same location they received their
initial series. Those seeking a booster shot can
visit MOStopsCovid.com to find a nearby
provider and schedule an appointment or
locate a walk-in clinic.
On Oct. 26, a Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)
advisory panel endorsed kid-
size doses of Pfizer's vaccine
for 5- to 11-year-olds. The
group overwhelmingly agreed
that the vaccine's benefits in
preventing COVID-19 among
that age group outweigh any
potential risks.
