Why is it necessary to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage in older people? How to improve the vaccination coverage?

In accordance with the COVID-19 surveillance data from Hong Kong, over 95% fatal cases were elderly patients aged & GE;60 years, and the median age of the dead cases was 86 years in the fifth COVID-19 wave. COVID-19 case fatality rates increased with age, vaccinations offered notable protection against COVID-19 death, and the protection was enhanced as the doses of vaccinations increased. The data fully demonstrated that elderly people were the main group of victims in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the vaccination was a vital weapon against COVID-19 in elderly people. In light of the experience of China's COVID-19 response, the measures to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage in older people were shown as follows: dispatching volunteers into residential communities to urge older people to complete COVID-19 vaccinations; ascertaining the vaccination status of elderly people suffering from underlying diseases; mobilizing various public institutions to participate in COVID-19 response; releasing a great deal of news via mass media every day to educate the elderly about COVID-19 prevention and control measures; assisting elderly people in rural and remote areas through drug distribution and emergency reserves.

Automated summary

According to COVID-19 surveillance data from Hong Kong, the majority of fatal cases were elderly patients aged ≥60 years in the fifth wave, with a median age of 86 years. Case fatality rates for COVID-19 increased with age, but vaccination provided notable protection, especially with higher doses. The data highlighted the vulnerability of elderly individuals to the pandemic and emphasized the importance of vaccinating this group. China's experience in improving vaccination coverage for older populations included measures such as deploying volunteers to communities, identifying vaccination status in elderly individuals with underlying conditions, mobilizing public institutions, providing daily news updates to educate the elderly about preventive measures, and offering assistance to those in rural and remote areas.