“Higher MORTALITY rates among 50+ VAX vs. NVAx patients with severe COVID-19 infection is a matter of CONCERN”
… patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) and various comorbidities
… 152 adult patients were admitted to Ohio State University hospital with ARF (05/2020 – 11/2022)
… 112 COVID-19-positive and 40 COVID-19-negative patients
… Of the COVID-19 positive patients, 23 were vaccinated (Vax), and 89 were not (NVax)
… SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels were measured
… total IgG4 Ab concentrations were compared between the Vax and NVax patients
… mortality rates were 36% and 27% for non-COVID-19 NVax and Vax patients, respectively
… in COVID-19 patients mortality rates were 37% (NVax) and 70% (Vax)
… Among COVID-19 patients, mortality rate was significantly higher among Vax vs. NVax patients (p=0.002)
… We observed a trend for increased total IgG4 Ab, which promotes immune tolerance, in the Vax vs. NVax patients
… vaccination status of hospital-admitted COVID-19 patients may not be instructive in determining mortality risk
… higher mortality rates among 50+ Vax vs. NVAx patients with severe COVID-19 infection and respiratory failure is a matter of concern
… elderly, and those with various comorbid conditions, were not adequately represented in the conducted clinical COVID-19 vaccine trials
… This significant omission … suggest the need for better vaccines or other therapies for certain at-risk populations