Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination against Severe Symptoms and Death Among Geriatric Inpatients: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Macao

Monitoring the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination is critical for understanding if the vaccinated population, especially the elderly, is adequately protected from the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on the severity of symptoms and mortality in hospitalized geriatric patients during the Omicron BF.7 surge in Macao. Data from electronic health records and vaccination registry of inpatients aged 60 years or above admitted to Kiang Wu Hospital from 12 December 2022 to 12 March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The study involved 848 people, including 426 vaccinated and 422 unvaccinated individuals. The mean CXR scores (8.95 ± 9.49 vs. 11.41 ± 10.81, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the mean MEWS scores (0.96 ± 2.01 vs. 1.49 ± 2.45, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were lower in the vaccinated group. By comparing the dose counts, no significant difference was seen in the odds of death. Based on the time of the last vaccination, 128 people were categorized as complete and 298 as incomplete vaccination. The complete vaccination group showed a 54% (95% CI 0.23-0.91) reduction in mortality risk (<i>p</i> = 0.026). The study findings not only reconfirm the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination but, more importantly, highlight the importance of vaccination timing to maximize vaccines' protective effect.