A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bolsters the argument that unvaccinated individuals are at a much higher risk of experiencing the worst outcomes of COVID - 19 than vaccinated individuals.
'These data indicate that authorized vaccinations protect against SARS infection and significant COVID - 19 with increased community transmission of the newly predominant delta variant, the CDC report stated.
Between May 1 and July 25th, 2021, unvaccinated residents of Los Angeles County, California, were 29.2 times more likely to be hospitalized by COVID - 19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, than their fully vaccinated counterparts. Those unvaccinated individuals also accounted for 71.4% of all infections during that time period.
About 51.6% of the American population is completely vaccinated. In California, about 55.1% of the population has been vaccinated while 67.9% have received at least one dose.
'This really is a medical miracle that we were able to take the information that we've had over two decades and have all of our agencies working together to get us a vaccine in record time, Dr. Adam Brown, national task force chair of Envision Healthcare, said on Yahoo Finance Live recently. What's important for folks to understand is that the safety procedures, clinical trials, the number of people who were tested with the vaccine have been followed just like they have with other types of medications.
Vaccination has slowed despite scientific data showing that vaccinations make a significant difference in killing serious illness and death. Unvaccinated individuals cited other reasons including distrust of FDA, concern over side effects or personal liberties.
'The fact is these vaccines are safe'".
The FDA also approved Pfizer along with Moderna and Johnson Johnson for their COVID 19 vaccines initial use authorizations, meaning that they would allow the use in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions when certain statutory criteria have been met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
The FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, and the new CDC study further corroborates the idea that the vaccines work.
I understand there's a lot of fear out there, Brown said. 'There's a lot of information coming from people from multiple different sources about vaccine, about the virus, about masks. Is vaccine safe? And when you look at our hospitals, you view the people who are sadly dying of COVID - 19, they are primarily with a high percentage those who are unvaccinated.
The vaccine is the only shot available for babies under 18 years old, though children younger than 12 still can not get it. That leaves millions of children still exposed to the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus and data has shown more children are being hospitalized than any other time during the pandemic.
The CDC study found that the unvaccinated individuals represented 85% of deaths in LA County, 86.9% of people admitted to intensive care units and 87.3% of those who needed mechanical ventilation to assist with their breathing
The report also reported the rise of Delta variants. In May, the Alpha variant — also known as the wild strain, or Alpha-type virus — accounted for 55% of cases among the unvaccinated in Los Angeles County. By July, Delta variant accounted for an overwhelming number of cases among the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and even fully vaccinated residents