Impact of COVID-19
important-icon

The information below is intended solely to help educate healthcare providers about COVID-19.
It is not a statement of vaccine efficacy or effectiveness.

It is important to keep eligible individuals up to date with COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19 and potential severe outcomes5

From October 2023 to early
February 2025, COVID-19
continued to cause severe outcomes, including hospitalization and
death in some people2,6

Note: Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination starts at 6 months of age.7

img Actor portrayals.

COVID-19–associated deaths from October 1, 2023, to February 8, 20258

According to provisional data
from the National Vital Statistics
System, there were:

~72,000

COVID-19–associated deaths across all age groups in the US8†

†The National Center for Health Statistics uses data from death certificates to produce provisional COVID-19 death counts for the 50 states and Washington, DC, based on ICD-10 code U07.1 (including confirmed and probable cases). Provisional counts may differ from other sources and typically lag 1 to 2 weeks behind due to the time required to complete death certificates and delays in testing or state reporting. Provisional data may be incomplete and subject to revision, and should not be compared across states due to differing reporting practices.8 For more detailed technical information about provisional death counts, please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/tech_notes.htm

COVID-19–associated hospitalizations continue to be a year-round risk2,9

RESP-NET rates of weekly COVID-19–associated or
flu-associated hospitalizations in the US

Laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 or influenza in adults from October 1, 2023, to September 28, 2024 (per 100,000 people)2,9

Laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 or influenza in adults from October 1, 2024, to February 1, 2025 (per 100,000 people)2,9

graph

Notes

  • RESP-NET also reports other pathogens not represented here2,9
  • Source: Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET)9
  • Additional information available at: https://www.cdc. gov/resp-net/dashboard/index.html
  • Data are collected for all ages through a network of acute care hospitals in select counties or county equivalents in 13 states for COVID-19 surveillance and 14 states for influenza surveillance. COVID-NET covers more than 34 million people and includes an estimated 10% of the US population. The COVID-19 surveillance area is generally similar to the US population by demographics, however, COVID-NET data might not
    be generalizable to the entire country2,9
  • Data are preliminary and subject to change as more data become available. In particular, case counts and rates for recent hospital admissions are subject to lag. Data may be affected by potential reporting delays; caution should be taken when interpreting these data2,9
  • Incidence rates of respiratory virus-associated hospitalizations (per 100,000) are calculated using the US Census vintage 2023 unbridged-race postcensal population estimates for the counties or county equivalents included in the surveillance area2,9
  • These rates are likely to be underestimated as some RESP-NET–associated hospitalizations might be missed because of undertesting, differing provider or facility testing practices, and diagnostic test sensitivity. Rates presented do not adjust for testing practices, which may differ by pathogen, age, race and ethnicity, and other demographic criteria2,9
  • Surveillance for COVID-19– and influenza-associated hospitalizations is typically conducted between October 1 and April 30, but recent years have seen COVID-NET and FluSurv-NET conduct surveillance past April 30 due to observed pathogen-specific trends in activity. As per RESP-NET, the surveillance season for COVID-19 extended through September 30, 2024, while the influenza surveillance season is extended to "present." The data shown in the graph reflect information through September 28, 20242,9

Notes

  • RESP-NET also reports other pathogens not represented here2,9
  • Source: Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET)9
  • Additional information available at: https://www.cdc. gov/resp-net/dashboard/index.html
  • Data are collected for all ages through a network of acute care hospitals in select counties or county equivalents in 13 states for COVID-19 surveillance and 14 states for influenza surveillance. COVID-NET covers more than 34 million people and includes an estimated 10% of the US population. The COVID-19 surveillance area is generally similar to the US population by demographics, however, COVID-NET data might not
    be generalizable to the entire country2,9
  • Data are preliminary and subject to change as more data become available. In particular, case counts and rates for recent hospital admissions are subject to lag. Data may be affected by potential reporting delays; caution should be taken when interpreting these data2,9
  • Incidence rates of respiratory virus-associated hospitalizations (per 100,000) are calculated using the US Census vintage 2023 unbridged-race postcensal population estimates for the counties or county equivalents included in the surveillance area2,9
  • These rates are likely to be underestimated as some RESP-NET–associated hospitalizations might be missed because of undertesting, differing provider or facility testing practices, and diagnostic test sensitivity. Rates presented do not adjust for testing practices, which may differ by pathogen, age, race and ethnicity, and other demographic criteria2,9
  • Surveillance for COVID-19– and influenza-associated hospitalizations is typically conducted between October 1 and April 30, but recent years have seen COVID-NET and FluSurv-NET conduct surveillance past April 30 due to observed pathogen-specific trends in activity. As per RESP-NET, the surveillance season for COVID-19 extended through September 30, 2024, while the influenza surveillance season is extended to "present." The data shown in the graph reflect information through February 1, 20252,9

Adults who did not receive
a
2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine were observed
to be at increased risk
for severe illness10,11

According to 2 studies of adults who did not receive a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, as published in separate issues of the CDC's MMWR:

According to a study published in the CDC’s MMWR by DeCuir et al, among immunocompromised adults
≥18 years of age,
~91%

of hospitalizations were in patients who had not received a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine10‡§

According to a study published in the CDC’s MMWR by Taylor et al, among adults ≥18 years of age,
~88%

of adults hospitalized with
COVID-19 had not received a
2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine11∥

‡The "no updated dose" group included all eligible persons who did not receive an updated (2023-2024) COVID-19 vaccine dose, regardless of number of previous doses (if any) received.10

§Participants were excluded if they 1) received a COVID-19 vaccine dose <7 days before their eligible ED/UC encounter or hospitalization; 2) received an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose <2 months after receiving a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose (to align with current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations); 3) received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine dose after September 10, 2023; 4) received an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose before September 13, 2023; or 5) received >1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose. Case-patients were also excluded if they had received a positive influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) molecular test result at the time of their CLI encounter. Because of potential confounding caused by the association between COVID-19 and influenza vaccination behaviors, control patients who received positive or indeterminant influenza test results were excluded from the primary analysis.10

∥According to COVID-NET, a case is defined as laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in a person residing in a COVID-NET surveillance area who tests positive within 14 days before or during hospitalization. COVID-NET covers 185 counties and county equivalents in 13 states nationwide. It includes an estimated 10% of the US population and is generally similar to the US population by demographics, though data might not be generalizable to the entire country. The COVID-NET surveillance season begins on Week 40 of the calendar year (on or around October 1) and continues through Week 39 of the following calendar year (on or around September 30, 2024). Surveillance for the 2023-2024 season began on October 1, 2023; additional data points are added as data are available.2 Additional information available at: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html

Among the 38,900 COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among adults ≥18 years of age, data were abstracted from a sample of 1754. Among these, 84 (4.8% [unweighted]) persons were pregnant, and 350 (19.9% [unweighted]) reported primary complaints upon admission that were not likely related to COVID-19–related illness and were excluded. Vaccination status for the 2023-2024 surveillance season was only collected for vaccines administered on or after September 1, 2022.11

CDC recommendations
for COVID-19 vaccination include eligible adults,
but the vaccination rate remains low5,12

Vaccination rates for 2024-2025 formula COVID-19 vaccine vs influenza vaccine

September 2024 to February 202512 |
In adults 18 years of age and older12:

COVID-19

COVID-19

Influenza

Influenza

COVID-19 Vaccinations

blue-20

Influenza Vaccinations

green-39
Source: National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module (NIS-ACM). These data are weekly estimates of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and intent for vaccination among adults and are calculated from the NIS-ACM.12
Despite high rates of contagion in the fall and winter months,
these two potentially serious respiratory illnesses have low vaccination rates5,12,13

COVID-19 vaccination coverage estimates presented represent uptake or intent for uptake of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination coverage estimates are based on all interviews through the current week and represent approximately the cumulative percent vaccinated by mid-week. Each week, estimates for prior weeks are recalculated using the additional interviews conducted that week, combined with all previous interviews. Estimates for vaccination intent are based on interviews conducted that week and are adjusted to the cumulative vaccination coverage estimate for that week.12

The NIS-ACM adult flu vaccination coverage estimates for prior season(s) are based on interviews conducted during each analysis period and can increase or decrease over time due to random sampling variation.12

Message

According to the CDC, eligible individuals may receive coadministration of a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same visit.14 HCPs should talk to patients about what vaccines they may need.

Select Risk Factors

Many individuals who
are not up to date with
a
2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine
may be at
risk for severe
outcomes* from COVID-195,12

Factors that increase risk of severe illness from COVID-19 include4†:

person1Aged 50 years and older

asthma_wheeingAsthma

kidney1Chronic kidney disease

abdo1Chronic liver disease

copd1COPD

cancer1Cancer

diebate1Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or Type 2)

heart1Heart conditions

obesity2Obesity

obesity2Smoking

*According to the CDC, severe outcomes of COVID-19 are defined as hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death.4

†List is in alphabetical order and is not a complete list or in order of risk.

To see a complete list of the factors that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, click here.

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COVID-19–associated hospitalizations in individuals with 1 or more underlying medical conditions2

October 1, 2023, to September 30, 20242‡

According to COVID-NET,‡of all COVID-19–associated
hospitalizations in the US:

~66%

were in adults 18 to 49 years of age2

91%-96%

were in adults 50 years of age and older2

‡According to COVID-NET, a case is defined as laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in a person residing in a COVID-NET surveillance area who tests positive within 14 days before or during hospitalization. COVID-NET covers 185 counties and county equivalents in 13 states nationwide. It includes an estimated 10% of the US population and is generally similar to the US population by demographics, though data might not be generalizable to the entire country. The COVID-NET surveillance season begins on Week 40 of the calendar year (on or around October 1) and continues through Week 39 of the following calendar year (on or around September 30, 2024). Surveillance for the 2023-2024 season began on October 1, 2023; additional data points are added as data are available.2 Additional information available at: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html

Age is the strongest risk factor for severe outcomes§ from COVID-194∥

Observed risk of severe outcomes was increased in people who are 50 years of age and older and increases substantially in people older than 65 years4

In hospitalization surveillance conducted
from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024,
according to COVID-NET, among all patients admitted to the
hospital due to COVID-19,
it is estimated that2∥:

hospital1

80%-85%

were adults aged 50 years
and older2

63%-71%

were adults aged 65 years
and older2

§According to the CDC, severe outcomes of COVID-19 are defined as hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death.4

∥According to COVID-NET, a case is defined as laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in a person residing in a COVID-NET surveillance area who tests positive within 14 days before or during hospitalization. COVID-NET covers 185 counties and county equivalents in 13 states nationwide. It includes an estimated 10% of the US population and is generally similar to the US population by demographics, though data might not be generalizable to the entire country. The COVID-NET surveillance season begins on Week 40 of the calendar year (on or around October 1) and continues through Week 39 of the following calendar year (on
or around September 30, 2024). Surveillance for the 2023-2024 season began on October 1, 2023; additional data points are added as data are available.2 Additional information available at: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html

Please refer to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covid-net/purpose-methods.html for the most current information related to CDC data collection.

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By clicking this link, you will be redirected to a website that is neither owned nor controlled by Pfizer. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of this site.

Provider Support

Speaking with patients about
COVID-19 vaccination can be an
important first step in helping
to build vaccine confidence15

Actor portrayals.

A healthcare professional’s recommendation is one of
the strongest predictors of whether a patient gets vaccinated16

The CDC recommendations include that all eligible
individuals 12 years of age and older receive a
2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine17

As of October 31, 2024, the CDC recommendations for
COVID-19 vaccination were updated18,19

The CDC recommendations include that eligible adults receive a
2024-2025 formula COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC has published additional considerations related to COVID-19 vaccination for individuals who are 65 years of age
and older or moderately to severely immunocompromised

For use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States:

View the CDC Interim
Clinical Considerations

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bandage

According to the CDC, routine simultaneous administration* of all age-appropriate
vaccines is recommended if there
are no contraindications at the time of the visit.18†

CDC Resources

The CDC recommends healthcare providers talk to
patients about what vaccines they may need.
Here are CDC resources that might help the conversation:

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By clicking these links, you will
be redirected to websites that are neither owned nor controlled by Pfizer. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of these sites.

*Special conditions apply to coadministration of orthopoxvirus vaccines. Refer to CDC clinical guidance for information.18

†Simultaneous administration is defined as administering more than 1 vaccine on the same clinic day, at different anatomic sites, and not combined in the same syringe.20

CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COVID-NET=Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hospitalization Surveillance Network;
FluSurv-NET=Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network; ICD=International Classification of Diseases; MMWR=Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; RESP-NET=Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network; SARS-CoV-2=severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Ordering available through Pfizer Prime*

Orders for 2024-2025 formula COVID-19 vaccines by BioNTech and Pfizer can be placed by eligible
healthcare professionals directly with Pfizer through Pfizer Prime online or by calling 1-800-533-4535.

Visit Pfizer Prime

*Eligible healthcare providers can order COVID-19 vaccines directly from
Pfizer. If preferred, orders may be placed with your facility’s wholesaler.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not administer COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) to individuals with known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of COMIRNATY or to individuals who had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) following a previous dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Management of Acute Allergic Reactions

Appropriate medical treatment must be immediately available to manage potential anaphylactic reactions following administration of COMIRNATY.

Myocarditis and Pericarditis

Postmarketing data with authorized or approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccines demonstrate increased risks of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly within the first week following vaccination. For COMIRNATY, the observed risk is highest in males 12 through 17 years of age. Although some cases required intensive care support, available data from short-term follow-up suggest that most individuals have had resolution of symptoms with conservative management. Information is not yet available about potential long-term sequelae.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published considerations related to myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination, including for vaccination of individuals with a history of myocarditis or pericarditis (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/myocarditis.html).

Syncope

Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines, including COMIRNATY. Procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.

Altered Immunocompetence

Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to COMIRNATY.

Limitation of Vaccine Effectiveness

COMIRNATY may not protect all vaccine recipients.

Adverse Reactions

The most commonly reported adverse reactions (≥10%) after a dose of COMIRNATY were pain at the injection site (up to 90.5%), fatigue (up to 77.5%), headache (up to 75.5%), chills (up to 49.2%), muscle pain (up to 45.5%), joint pain (up to 27.5%), fever (up to 24.3%), injection site swelling (up to 11.8%), and injection site redness (up to 10.4%).

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Pfizer Inc. at 1-800-438-1985 or https://www.pfizersafetyreporting.com or VAERS at 1-800-822-7967 or http://vaers.hhs.gov

Please click for COMIRNATY Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.

INDICATION

COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) is a vaccine indicated for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 12 years of age and older.

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References: Reference: References
  1. Finney Rutten LJ, Zhu X, Leppin AL, et al. Evidence-based strategies for clinical organizations to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(3):699-707. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.12.024
  2. COVID-NET interactive dashboard. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated October 10, 2024. Accessed December 10, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html
  3. Long COVID basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 11, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/
    long-term-effects/index.html
  4. Underlying conditions and the higher risk for severe COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 6, 2025. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html
  5. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated October 3, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
  6. Provisional mortality statistics, 2018 through last week results. Deaths occurring through February 15, 2025 as of February 23, 2025. WONDER online database. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 23, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10-provisional.html
  7. COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA). Prescribing Information. BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH and Pfizer Inc.; October 18, 2024.
  8. Provisional COVID-19 mortality surveillance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 27, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm
  9. Respiratory virus hospitalization surveillance network (RESP-NET). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 28, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/index.html
  10. DeCuir J, Payne AB, Self WH, et al. Interim effectiveness of updated 2023-2024 (monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 vaccines against COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults aged ≥18 years—VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023-January 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024; 73(8):180-188. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a5
  11. Taylor CA, Patel K, Pham H, et al. COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years—COVID-NET, 12 states, October 2023-April 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(39):869-875. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7339a2
  12. Vaccination trends. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 21, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/vaccination-trends.html
  13. Getting your immunizations for the 2024-2025 fall and winter virus season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated September 27, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/getting-your-immunizations-for-the-2024-2025-fall-and-winter-virus-season.html
  14. Getting a flu vaccine and other recommended vaccines at the same time. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated September 17, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/coadministration.html
  15. Talking with patients about COVID-19 vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated November 3, 2021. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/engaging-patients.html
  16. Adult immunization standards. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated August 9, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/hcp/imz-standards/index.html
  17. Panagiotakopoulos L, Moulia DL, Godfrey M, et al. Use of COVID-19 vaccines for persons aged ≥6 months: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2024-2025. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(37):819-824. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7337e2
  18. Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated October 31, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html
  19. CDC recommends updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines for fall/winter virus season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated June 27, 2024. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html
  20. Timing and spacing of immunobiologics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 24, 2024. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-best-practices/timing-spacing-immunobiologics.html