By Rachel Kamel
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Baltimore has one of the highest vaccination rates among similarly sized jurisdictions while also reporting fewer deaths from COVID-19 than other counties and cities, according to a new study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The city reported 53,141 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,261 deaths since March 2020, the study said. The report said this represents 89 cases per 1,000 people and 210 deaths per 100,000 citizens.
The report said that as of June 30, 2021, the cumulative COVID-19 incidence rate in Baltimore was lower than 265 of 326 counties while the cumulative mortality rate was lower than 237 of 326 counties.
The report, which was released Wednesday, compared Baltimore’s COVID-19 rates and response to 325 other U.S. counties and cities of similar size and sociodemographic makeup between January 2020 and June 2021.
The city’s vaccination rate is among the top 3% of similar U.S. jurisdictions, the report said, adding that 60% of city residents who are 12 or older have been vaccinated. That is higher than 317 of the 326 counties and cities compared in the study.
“Overall, our findings suggest Baltimore City has fared better than most counties with similar sociodemographic characteristics, as measured by COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 mortality, and COVID-19 vaccination per population,” the study said. “Baltimore did particularly well after the initial surge prior to June 2020, with the exception of a recent increase in cases and deaths between March and May 2021. Compared to other counties, Baltimore City excelled in providing COVID-19 vaccinations.”
According to the study, the cumulative case fatality ratio in Baltimore was lower than 183 of 326 counties. The report said Baltimore reported relatively high monthly incidence rates and mortality rates between March and June 2020.
In May 2020, the study said, “Baltimore reported 6 cases per 1,000 population and 28 deaths per 100,000 population, which was lower than 43 of 326 counties (13th percentile) and 66 of 326 counties (20th percentile), respectively.”
From July 2020 to October 2020 and November 2020 to February 2021, Baltimore had fewer cases and deaths per population than at least 50% of all counties, the study said.
The study was written by Kyu Han Leeand and Melissa Marx, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“This progress reflects the tireless efforts of the Baltimore City Health Department and our courageous first responders and health care professionals,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement. “I also want to thank every organization and concerned neighbor in Baltimore who encouraged friends and loved ones to wear a mask and get vaccinated throughout this pandemic.”
The report, which was titled “Comparison of US County-Level Public Health Performance Rankings with County Cluster and National Rankings,” compared jurisdictions of similar sociodemographic characteristics. It also considered characteristics including race/ethnicity, age, marital status, employment status, health insurance status and other factors.
US counties were assigned into eight different groups with similar socio-demographic profiles. This put Baltimore into a group with 326 counties known as the “semi-urban, mid/low socioeconomic status.”
Compared to the other 326 counties, Baltimore experienced less mortality, fewer COVID cases, and higher vaccination rates. Baltimore also continues to have the highest week-by-week increase in vaccination coverage of all local jurisdictions in Maryland, the study said.
Scott’s office reminded all Baltimore residents of the COVID-19 mobiles vaccination schedule located at baltimorecity.gov/bmorevax and that getting vaccinated at home is an option if necessary.
In addition, the mayor’s office put out a reminder that wearing a mask while indoors, maintaining social distancing, and getting vaccinated are the best ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and reduce the risk with the Delta variant.