PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
9/7/2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 090721
Subject:
Average Age of COVID-19-Related Deaths in Long Beach Drops by 13 Years
New figures also show increased disparity by gender
Contact:
Jennifer Rice Epstein
562.441.3590
Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov
Public Affairs Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
562.441.3590
Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov
Public Affairs Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
Long Beach, CA – The average age of a person who dies of COVID-19 in Long Beach is now 59 years old, a decrease of 13 years compared with data from March 2020 through July 2021, where the average age of COVID-19-related deaths was 72.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the 989 Long Beach residents who have died due to this terrible pandemic,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The shift in the average age of fatalities shows the critical need for people — especially young folks who have been our least likely to get vaccinated — to protect themselves and others around them.”
The data, compiled by epidemiologists in Long Beach’s Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), show that the pandemic is now causing more severe disease among younger, unvaccinated residents.
Additionally, the figures show that there’s been an increased disparity in gender. Since July 2021, 70% of fatalities have been males, whereas deaths were more evenly split among genders (58% male) before that time.
The City began to see a surge in COVID-19 infections in July, mostly among those who were unvaccinated, when the more highly transmissible Delta variant became dominant in Long Beach. While the infection rates and hospitalizations have begun leveling off, the effects of the surge are now being felt in the loss of life.
“Younger people must be vaccinated not only to protect the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, but also to protect themselves,” said City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis. “Please wear your mask indoors and get vaccinated if you’re eligible. The life you save may be your own.”
To date, 75.3% of Long Beach residents 12 or older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 65.1% of those 12 or older are fully vaccinated (one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna). The most highly vaccinated group by age is older adults (65 and older) — more than 99% of that age group has received at least one dose. By contrast, 60.5% of people 18-34 have received at least one vaccine dose. More women (52.4%) than men (46.8%) are vaccinated with at least one dose.
Vaccine clinics take place six days per week across Long Beach and mobile vaccine vans can visit those who are unable to travel to a City vaccine site. The vaccine clinic schedule is posted in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at longbeach.gov/vaxlb. People also may call 562.570.4636 or email Covid19Vaccine@longbeach.gov for assistance.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the 989 Long Beach residents who have died due to this terrible pandemic,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The shift in the average age of fatalities shows the critical need for people — especially young folks who have been our least likely to get vaccinated — to protect themselves and others around them.”
The data, compiled by epidemiologists in Long Beach’s Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), show that the pandemic is now causing more severe disease among younger, unvaccinated residents.
Additionally, the figures show that there’s been an increased disparity in gender. Since July 2021, 70% of fatalities have been males, whereas deaths were more evenly split among genders (58% male) before that time.
The City began to see a surge in COVID-19 infections in July, mostly among those who were unvaccinated, when the more highly transmissible Delta variant became dominant in Long Beach. While the infection rates and hospitalizations have begun leveling off, the effects of the surge are now being felt in the loss of life.
“Younger people must be vaccinated not only to protect the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, but also to protect themselves,” said City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis. “Please wear your mask indoors and get vaccinated if you’re eligible. The life you save may be your own.”
To date, 75.3% of Long Beach residents 12 or older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 65.1% of those 12 or older are fully vaccinated (one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna). The most highly vaccinated group by age is older adults (65 and older) — more than 99% of that age group has received at least one dose. By contrast, 60.5% of people 18-34 have received at least one vaccine dose. More women (52.4%) than men (46.8%) are vaccinated with at least one dose.
Vaccine clinics take place six days per week across Long Beach and mobile vaccine vans can visit those who are unable to travel to a City vaccine site. The vaccine clinic schedule is posted in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at longbeach.gov/vaxlb. People also may call 562.570.4636 or email Covid19Vaccine@longbeach.gov for assistance.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach.