Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults and older teens had still not caught COVID-19 by the end of last year, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while 77.5% had antibodies from at least one prior infection. The figures are based on the final batch of results from the agency’s nationwide studies of antibodies in Americans ages 16 and up.
Federal officials often cited estimates from these studies in moving to simplify vaccine recommendations and loosen COVID-19 restrictions, as the Biden administration wound down the public health emergency earlier this year.
Virtually every American ages 16 and older — 96.7% — had antibodies either from getting vaccinated, surviving the virus or some combination of the two by December, the CDC now estimates. The study found 77.5% had at least some of their immunity from a prior infection.
Of all age groups, seniors have the smallest share of Americans with at least one prior infection, at 56.5% of people ages 65 and over. Young adults and teens had the largest proportion of people with a prior infection, at 87.1% of people ages 16 to 29.
Among the 47 states with data in the CDC dashboard, Vermont has the lowest prevalence of past infections, with 64.4% of Vermonters having antibodies from a prior infection. Iowa had the largest share of residents with a prior infection, at 90.6%.
Rates were similar among men and women. Black and White people also have similar prior infection rates, between 75% and 80%.
Among other racial and ethnic groups, Asian Americans had the smallest proportion of people with antibodies from a prior infection, at 66.1%, whileHispanic people had the highest, at 80.6%.
CDC estimates for children have already been published through the end of last year, using other data from commercial testing laboratories. According to those figures, a little more than 9 in 10 Americans under 18 had survived COVID-19 at least once through December 2022.