By Hanna Park
(WASHINGTON) Coronavirus vaccination rates for younger Americans have lagged behind rates for older adults, even as the vaccines became accessible to all adults nationwide, according to a study published on Monday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that 80% of those aged 65 and older had received at least one shot by May 22, compared to 38.3% of those aged 18 to 29. Overall, 57% of American adults received at least one dose by the date.
Researchers anticipate that vaccination coverage for young adults will “remain substantially lower than among older adults” if current rates continue through August — indicating that younger age groups will be more at risk for cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Vaccination treatment has also grown more slowly among younger adults compared to older ones, per the CDC.
A CDC panel recommended that people aged 75 and older should be prioritized to get the vaccines when the first two became available in the U.S. as older adults were more vulnerable to hospitalizations and deaths.
After the at-risk populations were prioritized, the vaccine officially became available to all Americans aged 16 and older by April 19.