More than three-fourths of Americans ages 16 and older had contracted COVID-19 by the end of 2022, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The figure comes from a study tracking seroprevalence, or antibodies in the blood from either vaccination or infection, among 143,000 blood donors between January and December 2022.
The agency found that 77.5 percent of surveyed individuals had seroprevalence due to prior infection, and 96.7 percent had seroprevalence due to vaccination and/or infection.
CDC Reports Higher Incidence Rates in Lower-Income Communities
In a June 30 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC reported on its assessment of 81 Los Angeles communities, which found that COVID-19 incidence was higher in lower-income communities compared with higher-income communities during two surges before vaccine availability.
The study assessed incidence rates in July 2020 and January 2021 and the effect of vaccination on reducing these disparities.
The agency found that the effect of vaccination on COVID-19 incidence was highest in the lowest-income communities despite their lower vaccination coverage.
The report added to the existing body of evidence showing the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on the lowest-income communities. The agency noted that mitigating barriers to vaccination within lower-income communities is critical to reducing disparities in disease incidence and COVID-19–related illness.
Visit the America’s Essential Hospitals coronavirus resource page for more information about the pandemic.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
