“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