Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Modeling of Future COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Rates and Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Scenarios - United States, April-September 2021

Published inMorbidity and mortality weekly report, vol. 70, no. 19, p. 719-724
Publication date2021-05-14
First online date2021-05-14
Abstract

After a period of rapidly declining U.S. COVID-19 incidence during January-March 2021, increases occurred in several jurisdictions (1,2) despite the rapid rollout of a large-scale vaccination program. This increase coincided with the spread of more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including B.1.1.7 (1,3) and relaxation of COVID-19 prevention strategies such as those for businesses, large-scale gatherings, and educational activities. To provide long-term projections of potential trends in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub teams used a multiple-model approach comprising six models to assess the potential course of COVID-19 in the United States across four scenarios with different vaccination coverage rates and effectiveness estimates and strength and implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) (public health policies, such as physical distancing and masking) over a 6-month period (April-September 2021) using data available through March 27, 2021 (4). Among the four scenarios, an accelerated decline in NPI adherence (which encapsulates NPI mandates and population behavior) was shown to undermine vaccination-related gains over the subsequent 2-3 months and, in combination with increased transmissibility of new variants, could lead to surges in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. A sharp decline in cases was projected by July 2021, with a faster decline in the high-vaccination scenarios. High vaccination rates and compliance with public health prevention measures are essential to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent surges in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months.

Keywords
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / therapy
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Forecasting
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Masks
  • Models, Statistical
  • Physical Distancing
  • Public Policy
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Funding
  • NIGMS NIH HHS [R01 GM109718]
  • NIGMS NIH HHS [R35 GM119582]
  • NCIRD CDC HHS [U01 IP001122]
  • NCIRD CDC HHS [U01 IP001137]
Citation (ISO format)
BORCHERING, Rebecca K et al. Modeling of Future COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Rates and Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Scenarios - United States, April-September 2021. In: Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 2021, vol. 70, n° 19, p. 719–724. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7019e3
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7019e3.htm
Journal ISSN0149-2195
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3downloads

Technical informations

Creation30/09/2025 16:46:52
First validation15/07/2026 08:57:25
Update15/07/2026 08:57:25
Status update15/07/2026 08:57:25
Last indexation15/07/2026 08:57:26
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