A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Latest study shows 1.9 million lives were saved by the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. alone


Kentucky Voices for Health

In the latest study, published in The Lancet, it is reported that nearly 20 million lives were saved in the first year of COVID-19 vaccines being available to even just a portion of the population worldwide from December 2020 to December 2021.

In the United States, that number is estimated to have been at least 1.9 million lives saved thanks to the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The virus is once again on the rise in nearly all Kentucky communities, and across the country. The BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants have taken the lead among most prevalent strains of the virus now harming our neighbors and loved ones, meaning it remains just as important for Kentuckians to continue to do what they can to protect themselves and their communities from the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask, get tested, stay home if you feel sick, and most importantly, stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Kentucky’s latest data showed that most counties are now in the top two zones — high and medium — in new cases.

In anticipation of August being Immunization Awareness Month, Kentucky Voices for Health wants to uplift the latest vaccine information, social media content, and messaging recommendations from trusted sources, in hopes of dispelling ongoing misinformation, boost lagging vaccination rates among both low-income and vulnerable populations, and build on vaccine confidence within communities.

Latest eligibility fact: COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for all children 6-months old and older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for preventing the virus in children now 6 months to 5-years-old; the final age group to have needed vaccine authorization. This means that COVID-19 vaccines are now available to children ages 6-months to 17 years, in addition to the adult use vaccine authorizations for 18 years and older were approved months ago.

Parents interested in vaccinating their children should check with their pediatrician, family doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if they have questions specific to their child’s health or the vaccine in general. It’s okay for both parents and caretakers, as well as children themselves to have questions, but it’s critical to remember that vaccines save lives because vaccines work.

Families ready to schedule a pediatric vaccination for their child(ren) may also visit vaccines.gov where you can search by zip code and locate the vaccine of preference and schedule an appointment.


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