Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.
November 04, 2021 - 2:58 PM
New data released today shows that, while unvaccinated people make up the majority of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the number of deaths in that group is only slightly higher than for those who were fully vaccinated.
In October, 60% of new cases of COVID-19 were in people who were unvaccinated. They accounted for 72% of hospitalizations and 49% of deaths, according to data released by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at a news briefing today, Nov. 4.
During the same month, 34% of new cases were in those who were fully vaccinated but only 22% of those hospitalized were fully vaccinated. However, 46% of deaths were in fully vaccinated people.
Part of the reason for that is the fact that there are COVID outbreaks in dozen of care homes.
“The number one risk factor for having severe illness or dying from COVID is age,” Dr. Henry said. “It always has been. Continues to be. As we get older our response to vaccination is not as strong. Our immune response doesn’t mount as strong a response or as long lasting response. So we are seeing breakthroughs."
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She noted, while many of the deaths among the vaccinated are in long-term care, there are also some in the community, especially in large multigenerational families.
During the briefing Dr. Henry said that, for the first time in months, the COVID reproduction rate is below one. If it’s at one that means, for each person infected, they only infect one other person. It’s crucial, therefore, to keep the rate below one in order to contain the spread of COVID.
“We should see a steady decline in cases and hospitalizations in the next month but this is a very delicate balance,” Dr. Henry said.
She added that the delta variant of the virus transmits much more easily than earlier strains and it makes people sicker.
That’s why unvaccinated people who have died are often younger, she said.
“This is now a preventable disease, particularly for severe illness and hospitalizations,” Dr. Henry said.
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