One Corona disease is, according to the calculations, mainly for the mortal danger for those over 80 years of age: Almost two-thirds of the excess mortality in 2020 and 2021 is attributable to this age group, as the researchers reported in their calculations. Accordingly, another 30 percent extend to the group of 60 to 79 year olds. In contrast, only seven percent of the younger age groups are affected.
Even in the fourth corona wave, Germany failed to adequately protect the older age groups. “Although significantly more young people are becoming infected with the corona virus, the risk of death after infection is still much higher among older people,” said Ragnitz. “It is therefore important to take suitable measures, especially among them people to prevent severe disease progression – for example by giving priority to boosters and increasing the vaccination rate.” This would also be helpful in view of an impending overload of the health care system and could help to avoid less targeted measures with negative economic consequences.