The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released data on U.S. COVID incidence and hospitalization rates for vaccinated and non-vaccinated segments of the population over the past three months.

The age-adjusted rolling 14-day cumulative rates clearly demonstrate the protective effect of a comprehensive (two-doses plus booster) regimen even against exposure to the highly infectious Omicron variant.

EGG-NEWS emphasizes previously expressed opposition to vaccine mandates. These solidify and intensify opposition to vaccination among non-recipients comprising 25 percent of our population. Perhaps skeptics could review data and decide whether the risk, consequences and expense of contracting COVID is worth the personal satisfaction of being a libertarian denier of both the infection and the availability of protection. COVID is a public health problem, neither the infection nor voluntary vaccination should be political or freedom issues.