The death toll from the COVID-19 virus has risen to at least five million people worldwide, according to new statistics released on Monday. A U.S. government study found that vaccinations provide "better" immunity than that caused by prior infections. According to an AFP tally based on official sources, the number of deaths from the disease reached four million, 997 thousand, and 407 people, while the total number of infections is at least 246,627,420 since the World Health Organization (WHO) office in China reported the first emergence of the disease in December 2019.
The vast majority of those infected have recovered, although some continue to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. The figures are based on daily reports from health authorities in each country and exclude later revisions by statistical agencies that indicate the actual death toll may be much higher. The WHO believes the pandemic toll could be two to three times greater than the officially reported figures.
Based on recent reports, the countries with the highest daily death tolls are Russia, with 1,155 deaths, followed by Romania (427) and Ukraine (298). The United States is the most affected country in terms of total deaths (745,836) and infections (46,971,267), according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, followed by Brazil, India, Mexico, and Russia.
**Vaccination "Better" than Previous Infection**
A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the U.S. Department of Health, found that being vaccinated against the disease offers significantly better immunity than that obtained from a previous infection. Researchers divided 7,348 patients from various hospitals in the United States between the beginning of the year and early September into two groups: the first comprised 6,328 individuals who were fully vaccinated three to six months before hospitalization and had not been previously infected, while the second group included 1,020 individuals who had recovered from a previous infection three to six months prior but remained unvaccinated.
The study found that the rate of infection was 5.49 times higher among unvaccinated individuals with prior infections compared to those who were fully vaccinated and had no prior infection, indicating that the vaccine provides greater immunity than that resulting from infection. The study states, "All qualified individuals should receive the vaccine as soon as possible, including unvaccinated persons who have had a previous infection."
It also notes that the benefit of vaccination compared to infection is greater for the "Moderna" vaccine compared to the "Pfizer" vaccine. Additionally, the protective effect of vaccination is higher for adults aged 65 and over compared to those aged 18 to 64, according to the CDC.
