Are Young Adults the Answer to Herd Immunity?
What a year 2020 was. From quarantining to social isolation and social distancing, we as a society learned a lot about avoidance and personal hygiene. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity was sent into a tailspin with constant information that kept us all on our toes. Leaving 2020 and entering 2021, hope was restored with the arrival of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson just to name a few. Unfortunately, the vaccine rollout started out slower than imagined prompting certain populations to be granted access over others due to access to the vaccine in each state and generally low supply. The elderly and those in healthcare were allowed the opportunity to become vaccinated first starting as early as December in some places. Now, fast forward 5 months later, children aged 12-15 have been given the go-ahead by the FDA for only the Pfizer vaccine. So one may be wondering, “How has the vaccine rollout gone and where are we headed in terms of citizens of all ages having access?”
For starters, the vaccine was granted access to essential healthcare front-line workers as well as the elderly & those immuno-compromised to keep them safe as soon as possible. COVID-19 as a whole has been more of a burden for older communities and communities in the workforce that encounter the risk of contraction on a day-to-day basis. The likelihood of hospitalization from infection, according to the CDC, is at minimum 25x greater for those above 50 years old than those under that age limit. Luckily though, the first vaccine was administered in mid-December of 2020 and has been on an astronomical rise since it began. As of early March, America hasn’t gone below a 2 million vaccination day and has been remaining consistent on doing so now for over 2 months.
Locally as of May 12th, a large portion of Delawareans have been vaccinated fully at 35%. Most of the vaccinations were administered to those above 35 years of age. To differentiate the level of full vaccinations by age group (stats are pre-approval of 12-15 age group):
- 16 - 17: 13.9%
- 18 - 34: 21.9%
- 35 - 49: 32.3%
- 50 - 64: 48.5%
- 65+: 78.1%
As a whole, the rate of vaccinations in Delaware is above average compared to many other states. Locally, we’re trending upwards of 10,000 vaccinations a day. As long as Delawareans continue to get vaccinated and the vaccines continue to prove to be safe and effective for our younger populations, herd immunity could be fast approaching. This does imply the caveat to the inverse though. If younger people have to keep waiting with the rise of covid infections to younger people, how will covid impact younger citizens in the long run, and what may that population face for the long term?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the summer, in the United States, people under age 30 accounted for more than 20% of COVID-19 cases and were seen as more likely to transmit the virus than others. This is something that is trending upwards as the 18-34 age group is the age group most likely to participate in re-opening activities such as going out to bars, etc. According to NPR, adults under 50 now account for the most hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the country. They account for approximately 35% of all hospital admissions. The rising infections in young adults create what NPR calls a “reservoir of disease.” This causes a surge in other cases as the young adult population spreads it to others.
The chance of dying from COVID-19 remains small for people under the age of 50, but this age group can still become seriously ill and experience lasting effects. The virus can cause damage to the lungs, heart, and brain. COVID-19 can cause lasting damage to the heart muscle and can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs. This can lead to long-term breathing problems. COVID-19 can cause strokes or seizures and can increase your chance of blood clots. Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 have gone to develop chronic fatigue syndrome. This disorder is characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn’t get better with rest.
The best way to avoid becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. More than 30% of the U.S population is vaccinated but the vast majority are people over 65. Nationwide, about 32% of people in their 40s are fully vaccinated, compared with 27% of people in their 30s. That share drops to about 18% for 18- to 29-year-olds. This is all according to NPR. There are some concerning national poll results that show a large portion of teens and young adults don’t necessarily have plans to get vaccinated.
Be sure to talk with your PCP about your COVID-19 options. Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available as two-dose vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the only single-dose vaccine available in the U.S. Getting vaccinated is our quickest way to get back to normal.
Citations:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-covid-19-vaccination-doses?tab=chart&country=~USA
https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/locations/state/vaccine-tracker#vaccine_tracker
https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/locations/state#overview