AUTHOR=Lin Shao , Liu Han , Qi Quan , Trees Ian , Gao Donghong , Friedman Samantha , Xue Xiaobo Romeiko , Lawrence David TITLE=Tracking temporal variations of fatality and symptomology correlated with COVID-19 dominant variants and vaccine effectiveness in the United States JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1419886 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1419886 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=Introduction

We described how COVID-19 fatality and symptoms varied by dominant variant and vaccination in the US.

Methods

Using the Restricted Access Dataset from the US CDC (1/1/2020–10/20/2022), we conducted a cross-sectional study assessing differences in COVID-19 deaths, severity indicators (hospitalization, ICU, pneumonia, abnormal X-ray, acute respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation) and 12 mild symptoms by dominant variant/vaccination periods using logistic regression after controlling for confounders.

Results

We found the highest fatality during the dominant periods of Wild (4.6%) and Delta (3.4%). Most severe symptoms appeared when Delta was dominant (Rate range: 2.0–9.4%). Omicron was associated with higher mild symptoms than other variants. Vaccination showed consistent protection against death and severe symptoms for most variants (Risk Ratio range: 0.41–0.93). Boosters, especially the second, provided additional protection, reducing severe symptoms by over 50%.

Discussion

This dataset may serve as a useful tool to monitor temporospatial changes of fatality and symptom for case management and surveillance.