A recent study have shown that when we immunize older adults with COVID-19 vaccinations first, the act will spare considerably more U.S. lives than prioritizing other age groups. Proponets of the study added that the slower the immunization rollout and more prevalent and widespread the COVID-19 is, the more critical it is to put older adults ahead of the line.
According to MedicalXpress, a recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder that was published today in the journal Science shows various ways and strategies on how vaccine distribution will play a role in the prevention of the virus for various countries all over the world. The study utilized mathematical modeling in assessing the implication of these distributions.
The research found out that a more efficient approach towards vaccination is to prioritize older age groups, as compared to distributing them first to the younger generation. As part of the policy recommendations of the study, the researchers advised the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization of their prioritization tactics in giving out vaccinations.
In application, these organizations would have to prioritize older adults after medical workers or essential workers. These policymakers are still looking for ways to take heed of this advice, since the study shows a very convincing tool that presents actual numbers that may determine the fate of the fight against the Global pandemic.
Daniel Larremore, an author of the study and a computational biologist in the Department of Computer Science and CU Boulder's BioFrontiers Institute said "Common sense would suggest you want to protect the older, most vulnerable people in the population first. But common sense also suggests you want to first protect front-line essential workers (like grocery store clerks and teachers) who are at higher risk of exposure."
"When common sense leads you in two different directions, math can help you decide." he adds.
Quantitative Research Finds Older Adults Should be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccination
The study bears its feasibility from quantitative evidences to support their claims. They conducted the study using demographic information from different countries. They aslo used information such as the number of people who tested positive for the virus, the speed of the virus spread, and the rate at which vaccines are being rolled out.
They used different hypothetical situations in experimenting with different age groups among other variables. Countries like United States, Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Poland, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe are included in the study.
Results show that different strategies might work better under different circumstances. However, one conclusion remained the same for most scenarios: That prioritizing adults that are aged 60 and up has saved the most lives. Science Mag also resonates with the study in priotizing older adults for vaccine jabs.
Read more: FDA Passes Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines, Announces High-Risk Groups to be Vaccinated First
Age Determines Vulnerability for COVID-19 Infection
According to Larremore, "Age is the strongest predictor of vulnerability, noting that while pre-existing conditions like asthma boost risk of severe illness or death, age boosts vulnerability more. You have an exponentially higher likelihood of dying from COVID-19 as you get older."
All of the authors suggest that putting older adults first in the line towards vaccination can prevent the virus from landing on hosts that are more vulnerable. Since current diseases that are apparent among older adults make them more high-risk towards the virus, giving them the vaccines first would make much sense to spare their lives.
Moreover, younger age groups have stronger immune responses against the virus as compared to older people. Thus, older people should be given the priority when it comes to vaccination to help curb the pandemic.
Related Article: Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Faces Biggest Challenge Ahead of Its Highly-Anticipated FDA Approval
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Written by Nikki D
