New CDC Estimates Show 1 in 4 Americans Have Not Had COVID-19
According to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults and older teens had not contracted COVID-19 by the end of last year. These figures are based on the final batch of results from the agency’s nationwide studies of antibodies in Americans ages 16 and up. The CDC also found that 77.5% of individuals had antibodies from at least one prior infection.
Federal officials have often cited these estimates from the CDC studies to inform vaccine recommendations and ease COVID-19 restrictions. These findings played a crucial role in the Biden administration’s efforts to wind down the public health emergency earlier this year.
The latest estimates indicate that virtually every American age 16 and older – 96.7% – had antibodies either from vaccination, surviving the virus, or a combination of both by December. The study also revealed that 77.5% of individuals had some level of immunity from a previous infection.
Among different age groups, seniors aged 65 and over had the lowest proportion of individuals with at least one prior infection, at 56.5%. Conversely, young adults and teenagers aged 16 to 29 had the highest proportion of individuals with a prior infection, at 87.1%.
The data also shows variations in prior infection rates among different racial and ethnic groups. Asian Americans had the lowest proportion of people with antibodies from a prior infection, at 66.1%. On the other hand, Hispanic people had the highest, at 80.6%. Rates were similar among men and women, as well as Black and White people, both ranging between 75% and 80%.
It is important to note that having antibodies from a prior infection does not guarantee immunity against future COVID-19 infections, as immunity can wane over time. Experts at the CDC have discovered that the risk of reinfection and the level of protection against the virus depend on an individual’s unique combination of previous vaccinations and infecting variants.
The seroprevalence data provided by the CDC has helped shed light on the extent of undetected or underreported virus spread. Census Bureau survey results published by the CDC indicate that only 54.9% of all adults believe they have ever had COVID-19.
The increasing seroprevalence has also posed challenges in measuring the effectiveness of vaccines. The CDC’s Ruth Link-Gelles stated that it has become difficult to assess prior infection in vaccine effectiveness studies. As a result, researchers are now focused on evaluating the additional protection provided by each year’s new COVID booster shots.
Overall, these estimates highlight the progress made in combating the spread of COVID-19 through vaccination and previous infections. However, it is crucial for individuals to continue following public health guidelines and getting vaccinated to curb the ongoing pandemic.