Iceland is proof that COVID-19 vaccines work, a leading US expert said. Infections are at record levels, but the country has not recorded any deaths from the virus since May.

• Iceland proves COVID-19 vaccines work, a leading US infectious disease expert has said.

• Most new infections are in people who have been vaccinated, but only a small number end up in hospital.

• The country has not recorded any COVID-19-related deaths since May 25.

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The COVID-19 situation in Iceland is proof that vaccines work, said a leading US infectious disease specialist.

Iceland has reported 2,847 new infections in the past month, mostly due to the highly infectious Delta variant, and most in fully vaccinated people, official statistics show. This is the highest number of new infections in a month since the start of the pandemic, but vaccines appear to be doing their job – the vast majority of new infections are mild at worst.

Of the 1,239 Icelanders recorded as having COVID-19 on Sunday, only 3% were hospitalized, the data showed.

The country has not recorded any COVID-19-related deaths since May 25, according to government statistics and Our World in Data from the University of Oxford.

Carlos del Rio, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Emory University, said on Twitter on Sunday that “Iceland proves vaccines work”.

Brandon Guthrie, epidemiologist and professor of global health at the University of Washington, told the Washington Post that “having few deaths or severe cases of disease in the context of severe outbreaks should definitely be seen as at least a partial victory.” .

Iceland ranks fourth in the world for immunization deployment, having fully immunized 70.6% of its population. The three countries with the highest vaccination rates are Malta (80.5%), the United Arab Emirates (73.7%) and Singapore (73.1%).

For comparison, 50.7% of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. The world average is 23.6%.

Most Icelanders have received Pfizer’s vaccine, which is around 88% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant after two doses, according to actual UK data.

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The country has also used vaccines from Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Read more: Experts explain why mRNA technology that revolutionized COVID-19 vaccines could be the answer to incurable diseases, heart attacks and even snakebites: “The possibilities are endless”

As of Monday, 306 Icelanders between the ages of 18 and 29 were currently isolated, compared to just four people over 90, according to government data. Over 98.2% of those over 90 in Iceland are fully immunized, compared to 79.8% of those aged 16 to 29.

Despite the country’s successful vaccination, Icelandic health authorities are maintaining COVID-19 restrictions until at least August 27. That means a 200-person cap on gatherings, a social distancing of 1 meter, recommended masks in crowded spaces, and an 11 p.m. curfew. bars and restaurants. Only seated customers may drink alcohol.

On Thursday, the country began administering additional booster doses to those who received J & J’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine – and those who are immunocompromised.

Since the start of the pandemic, the country has recorded 9,522 infections and 30 deaths, according to government data.

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