A bold statement to make – and with sufficient evidence to back it up – the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDH) says they have data that proves vaccines save lives.
This week, the department presented an overview illustrating the effectiveness of vaccines using comprehensive data of cases diagnosed with COVID-19 in those over 60 years during the week of 14 – 20 August when the Western Cape was in its peak of the third wave of COVID-19 infections.
This age group was the first to receive the vaccinations and presents the highest number of people fully vaccinated. In this cohort, 270 619 people (over the age of 60), or 38%, out of a population of 720 000 were fully vaccinated during this time.
The analysis, led by Professor Mary-Ann Davies, Professor and Director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research at UCT and Public Health Medicine Specialist at the Western Cape Department of Health, makes for compelling reading:
COVID-19 infections in those over 60 years:
• 2455 contracted COVID-19, but
• 2245 or 92% of people were NOT vaccinated – only 8% of those vaccinated contracted COVID-19
Hospitalisation:
• 729 people over the age of 60 required hospitalisation, but
• 699 or 96% were NOT vaccinated – only 4% of those vaccinated required hospitalisation
Death:
• 292 people over the age unfortunately died due to COVID-19, but
• 287 or 98.3% were NOT vaccinated – only 1.7% of those vaccinated died due to other complications and not the vaccine.
The WCDH said, the effectiveness of the vaccines, and how they reduce your risk of ending up in hospital or dying from COVID-19, could not be illustrated in a clearer manner.
“This is why we continue to engage communities and continue to encourage people to take up vaccination to protect themselves and save their lives.”
Register for your vaccine here.
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