Higher COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Are Associated with Lower COVID-19 Mortality: A Global Analysis

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Global Health
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Mass vaccination campaigns for COVID-19 are globally implemented.
• Understanding the impact of vaccination on COVID-19 mortality is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between COVID-19 deaths per 1000 cases and fully vaccinated populations.
• To analyze the impact of vaccination and booster doses on mortality rates across different countries.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of COVID-19 deaths per 1000 cases in relation to vaccination coverage across 164 countries.
• Utilized regression models with control variables to assess the association between vaccination rates and mortality.
• Examined variations in vaccination levels, booster doses, and mortality, stratified by country income groups.

Main Results:

• Global median COVID-19 deaths per 1000 cases decreased from 15.68 at 6 months to 11.96 at 12 months post-vaccination.
• A 10% increase in vaccination coverage was linked to an 18.1% decrease in mortality after 6 months and a 16.8% decrease after 12 months.
• A 10% increase in booster vaccination rates correlated with a 33.1% reduction in COVID-19 mortality, with variations observed across income groups.

Conclusions:

• Higher vaccination and booster rates are significantly associated with lower COVID-19 mortality.
• Efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve global vaccine infrastructure are essential for increasing vaccination rates worldwide.