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COVID-19 Vaccination and Decreased Death Rates: A County-Level Study in Pennsylvania
  • Ryan Savitz,
  • Maria Ramunno
Ryan Savitz
Neumann University

Corresponding Author:savitzr@neumann.edu

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Maria Ramunno
Neumann University
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Abstract

Introduction: In this paper we examine the relationship between vaccination against COVID-19 and both the death rate from COVID-19 and the rate of COVID-19 spread. Our goal is determine if vaccination is associated with reduced death and/or spread of disease at the local level. Methods: This analysis was conducted at the county level in the state of Pennsylvania, United States of America, with data that were collected during the first half of 2022 from the state of Pennsylvania’s Covid Dashboard ([COVID-19 Data for Pennsylvania (pa.gov)](https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/pages/cases.aspx) . Result s: Given that, during this time period, the vaccines being used were not geared specifically toward the common variants at that time, we found no statistically significant relationship between disease spread and vaccination rate at the county level. That said, we did find a highly statistically significant relationship between death rate and vaccination rate (p-value = 0.006). Specifically, a 1% increase in vaccination rate was found to correspond to a 0.751% decrease in death rate (95% confidence interval (0.236%, 1.266%)). Conclusions: These results support previous findings from across the world that Covid vaccination is highly efficacious in preventing death from the disease. Even during a time when vaccine design was not optimally matched with the prevailing strains, vaccination was found to reduce death rate. Hence, improving global vaccine availability is vitally important, in order to achieve necessary outcomes.
27 Mar 2023Submitted to Journal of Medical Virology
27 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
27 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
27 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 May 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
16 May 20231st Revision Received
18 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
18 May 2023Assigned to Editor
18 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept