AUTHOR=Radomyslsky Zorian , Kivity Sara , Lidar Shira , Bentur Netta , Korn Liat , Nissanholtz-Gannot Rachel , Sternberg Shelley , Halevi Hochwald Inbal , Reges Orna , Alon Yaniv , Saban Mor TITLE=Association between COVID-19 vaccination and critical outcomes among older adults with dementia: a comparative cohort study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281266 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281266 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=As COVID-19 vaccines became available, understanding their potential benefits in vulnerable populations has gained significance. This study explored the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with cognitive disorders by analyzing health-related variables and outcomes.A prospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical records of 25,733 older adults with cognitive disorders and 65,544 older adults without cognitive disorders from March 2020 to February 2022. COVID-19 vaccination status was the primary exposure variable, categorized as fully vaccinated or unvaccinated. The primary outcomes measured were all-cause mortality and hospitalization rates within 14 days and 400 days postvaccination. Data on vaccination status, demographics, comorbidities, testing history, and clinical outcomes were collected from electronic health records. The study was ethically approved by the relevant medical facility's Institutional Review Board (0075-22-MHS).RESULTS: Vaccinated individuals had significantly lower mortality rates in both groups. In