Buenos Aires, Argentina — More than 90% of COVID deaths in Argentina this year were among people who were not vaccinated or who had not received a booster shot, according to data from the country's Ministry of Health.



The data, which was released on September 23, 2023, showed that of the 419 people who died from COVID in Argentina in 2023, 377 were either unvaccinated or had not received a booster shot within the past six months.

The data also showed that the vast majority of COVID deaths in Argentina this year occurred among people aged 65 and older. Of the 419 deaths, 321 occurred in people aged 65 and older, and 250 of those deaths occurred in people aged 75 and older.

"We know that vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19," said Gustavo Lopardo, former president of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases. "While we can't say for sure that all of these deaths would have been prevented, we can say that they were potentially preventable."

The data from Argentina is consistent with data from other countries around the world. In the United States, for example, a study published in the journal The Lancet found that vaccines were 95% effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the COVID-19 pandemic is still a threat to global health, especially for people who are at high risk of severe illness, such as those who are over 50 years old, pregnant, or have underlying health conditions.

The WHO recommends that everyone over the age of 5 years old get vaccinated against COVID-19. It also recommends that people who are at high risk of severe illness get a booster shot.

In Argentina, the government offers free COVID-19 vaccines to all residents. The vaccine rollout began in December 2020, and as of October 3, 2023, more than 90% of the population has been fully vaccinated.

"It's important for people to get vaccinated and boosted," said Daniela Hozbor, a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology in Buenos Aires. "Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness and death from COVID-19."

The data from Argentina is a reminder that vaccines are essential for protecting yourself from serious illness and death from COVID-19. If you are over 5 years old, you should get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are at high risk of severe illness, you should also get a booster shot.

In the United States, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine at your doctor's office, a local health department, or a pharmacy. The vaccine is free and available to everyone.

Additional resources

COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO)