Characteristics of Reported Deaths Among Fully Vaccinated Persons With Coronavirus Disease 2019—United States, January–April 2021

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases 2022-08, Vol.75 (1), p.e645-e652
• Main Authors: François Watkins, Louise K, Mitruka, Kiren, Dorough, Layne, Bressler, Sara S, Kugeler, Kiersten J, Sadigh, Katrin S, Birhane, Meseret G, Nolen, Leisha D, Fischer, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac066

Abstract Background Vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are highly efficacious, but severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections do occur after vaccination. We characterized COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated persons with an outcome of death. Methods We analyzed COVID-19 cases voluntarily reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by US health departments from 1 January to 30 April 2021. We included cases among US residents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result ≥14 days after completion of an authorized primary vaccine series and who had a known outcome (alive or dead) as of 31 May 2021. When available, specimens were sequenced for viral lineage and death certificates were reviewed for cause(s) of death. Results Of 8084 fully vaccinated persons with reported COVID-19 during the surveillance period, 245 (3.0%) died. Compared with patients who remained alive, those who died were older (median age, 82 vs 57 years;), more likely to reside in a long-term care facility (51% vs 18%), and more likely to have ≥1 underlying health condition associated with risk for severe disease (64% vs 24%) (all P