Roundup: This Many Millions of Lives Saved by COVID Vaccines: New Report; Death Rate from Falls Among 65 and Older Increasing; and More News

New Report: COVID Vaccines have Saved More Than 3.2 Million Lives in U.S.

This month marks two years since the first COVID-19 vaccine was given to a patient in the United States. A new study has found that COVID-19 vaccines have prevented more than 18.5 million additional hospitalizations -- and more than 3.2 million additional deaths.

Over the past two years, the U.S. has administered more than 655 million doses, with at least 80 percent of the population getting at least one dose. While COVID-19 is still causing hospitalizations and deaths, the new analysis found that "without vaccination, there would have been nearly 120 million more COVID-19 infections."

Researchers from the Commonwealth Fund and Yale School of Public Health created a computer model of disease transmission that incorporated detailed demographic information to determine the effectiveness of the vaccines.

The COVID vaccination program's success is vital at this time as hospitals across the nation grapple with high levels of flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). 

"Curbing hospitalization rates by reducing both COVID-19 incidence and symptom severity is particularly important amidst the strain on the healthcare system caused by unusually high levels of flu and RSV," said a statement from the Commonwealth Fund on the study's results. "COVID-19 vaccination has preserved hospital resources for individuals who would otherwise have not received timely care."

COVID-19 has caused at least 99.2 million cases and more than 1.08 million deaths in the US., according to the latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the past week alone, there were 2,981 new deaths and 30,253 new hospital admissions caused by COVID.

CDC Update: Death Rate from Falls Among Adults 65 and Older is Surging

Between 2000 and 2020, rates of deaths from accidentals falls among adults aged 65 and older increased significantly, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among men and women aged 65 and over, the death rate due to falls more than doubled across certain age groups. Among adults aged 65–74, the rate for men increased from 11.9 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 23.8 in 2020; and the rate for women increased from 6.6 to 13.3 per 100,000.

For adults aged 75–84, the death rate from falls for men increased from 39.9 in 2000 to 81.6 in 2020, and the rate for women increased from 25.3 to 57.2.

“The greatest increase in rates for both men and women was among adults aged 85 and over,” the CDC states. “The rate for women nearly tripled from 99.2 in 2000 to 269.8 in 2020, while the rate doubled for men from 145.4 to 329.6 during the same period.”

The CDC urges all older adults to talk openly with their doctor about fall risks and prevention. Tell your doctor right away if you have fallen, if you’re afraid you might fall, or if you feel unsteady. Moreover, review all of your medicines with your doctor and discuss any side effects such as feeling dizzy or sleepy. Some medicines -- even over-the-counter products and herbal supplements -- can increase your fall risk.

“Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S.—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group,” states the CDC. “One out of four older adults will fall each year.”

Study: Frequent Use of Digital Devices to Calm Young Children may be Harmful in the Long-Term

For many parents, it is tempting to hand their young children a smartphone or other digital device in an effort to calm a tantrum. But such a move -- soothing your young child with "screen time" -- may do more harm than good, and hinder their emotional development later in life, says a new study.

Researchers reviewed 422 parent and caregiver responses to determine how likely they were to use electronic devices or tablets to distract or calm the children. The behaviors of the 3- to 5-year-old children were monitored over a six-month period, according to the study published this week in JAMA Pediatrics.

The study focused on how often the electronic devices were used as a calming tool and associations to symptoms of "emotional reactivity or dysregulation" over a six-month period. Signs of increased dysregulation could include rapid shifts between sadness and excitement, a sudden change in mood or feelings and heightened impulsivity.

“Using mobile devices to settle down a young child may seem like a harmless, temporary tool to reduce stress in the household, but there may be long-term consequences if it’s a regular go-to soothing strategy,” said lead author Jenny Radesky, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. 

She stresses that the preschool-to-kindergarten period represents a developmental stage when children may be more likely to exhibit difficult behaviors, such as tantrums, defiance and intense emotions. This may make it even more tempting to use devices as a parenting strategy.