A study on the influence of vaccination amongst Covid-19 patients by Star Health and Allied Insurance, one of the top standalone overall health Insurance corporations in India, has unveiled the important impacts of vaccination amongst men and women of 45 years and above.
The study has concluded that there was a marked reduction in the total hospitalization costs by about 24%, the typical length of keep (ALOS) by a imply of 2.1 days, ICU requirement by 66% and a reduction of about 81% in mortality amongst patients who had completed two doses of vaccination.
The study was performed in the course of the second wave (March & April 2021) and regarded a sample size of 3,820 hospitalized patients from across India who had been 45 years and above. The cohort study revealed that the typical price of hospitalization of the unvaccinated group was Rs.2.77 lakh even though the vaccinated group recorded an typical price of Rs.2.1 lakh.
The reduction is price was due to components like lowered want of ICU requirement and reduction in the length of hospital keep from an typical of 7 days amongst unvaccinated to an typical of 4.9 days for the vaccinated group.
Speaking on the study, Dr. S Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance mentioned, “The beginning of 2021 saw a breakthrough in vaccine discovery against COVID-19 making it the fastest vaccine discovery till date. Our aim was to measure and understand in exact terms the impact of Covid-19 vaccination in patients who contracted the illness 14 days after the second dose versus unvaccinated patients, thus making it a unique research in its own right.“
In the wake of COVID-19, most of the studies conducted so far have reported an impact of vaccination among the common public while Star Health Insurance’s cohort study gives exclusivity to patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The main purpose of this study has not only been to understand the medical benefit but also financial implications.
Dr. Madhumathi Ramakrishnan, Joint Vice President Star Health and Allied Insurance said, “Our study covered pan India data of the patients affected by COVID-19. The aim was to assess the medical and financial implications of vaccination. Our study concluded that, the ones who had taken the vaccination had a clear advantage over the non-vaccinated as we witnessed a significant difference in parameters like hospital stay, cost of treatment and death due to infection.”
The cohort study surveyed clients of Star Health and Allied Insurance Company who had been admitted for Covid-19 therapy in 1,104 hospitals across the nation and located that the ALOS, want for ICU and reduction in charges also holds accurate for patients with comorbidities as effectively. While the want for ICU for patients with comorbidities fell from a whopping 9.4% to 5% amongst these vaccinated, the therapy price also lowered by almost 15%.
“However, the study also revealed that over 57% of patients among the unvaccinated group were hesitant to take the vaccine due to fear, ignorance or more worryingly, social factors and disinterest! There is an urgent need to address this and we hope that through this study we will be able to highlight the benefits of the vaccine, educate and motivate the public to get vaccinated soon,” added Dr. Prakash.
Conducted and concluded in the course of the early stages of vaccination drive, the study noted that almost 86% amongst these surveyed had not taken the vaccination and amongst these 43% did not have any valid explanation for not taking the jab.
Star Health believes that the only way to mitigate a third wave is to improve vaccination amongst the population, host active demystification applications and campaigns via neighborhood engagement to attain rural and urban population alike.