[ad_1]
More than 5,100 Massachusetts residents have tested positive for COVID-19, despite having been fully vaccinated against the virus, and at least 80 of them have died, health officials from the said Tuesday evening. ‘State.
The latest update from the state’s Department of Public Health comes as coronavirus measures continue to rise in Bay State as the most contagious Delta variant continues to spread in the United States .
So-called breakthrough cases – where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for the coronavirus – have so far been rare, but are possible. And that’s to be expected, according to the CDC.
As of July 17, a total of 5,166 breakthrough cases have been reported to the state DPH. Of these, 272 people were hospitalized and survived. Of the 80 people who died, 23 died without being hospitalized; 57 died following a hospital stay.
The death toll reflects 1.54% of the 5,166 confirmed breakthrough cases and 0.0018% of the 4,307,361 Bay State residents fully vaccinated as of July 20.
The overwhelming majority of reported breakthrough cases – over 93% – have not resulted in hospitalization or death. Health officials insist that confidence in vaccines must not be shaken and say these numbers must be put into perspective.
“I think we have to be careful, but we have to keep things in perspective,” said Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
Tufts Medical Center epidemiologist Dr Shira Doron said since people started rolling up their sleeves for COVID vaccines, Boston Hospital has only seen two patients hospitalized for COVID-19 among those who were fully vaccinated. Neither is dead.
“What hasn’t changed is that the vaccine prevents serious illness and death,” Doron said.
Doron also acknowledged that while people get nervous hearing about groundbreaking cases, she really thinks the focus now is on vaccinating more people here in Massachusetts and across the United States. .
That’s what protects us, she says. Doron also pointed out that adverse events associated with vaccines are extremely rare.
“You have a small but bigger bet than the bet you take with the vaccine, the chance of ending up in a hospital, in an intensive care unit on a ventilator or potentially dead,” she said.
While COVID cases are going in the wrong direction, most of those who get very sick are people who have not been vaccinated. Still, that doesn’t seem like a sufficient warning to the unvaccinated community.
According to Curry, the time to prepare is now.
“We need companies to urge people to get vaccinated. I think companies need to be judgmental and decide if necessary to have a mask when people come in. I know we are not in a state of trouble. emergency where we once were, but we may have to go back to those strategies. Frankly, it saves lives. “
If you’re still hesitant about getting a vaccine, Curry says you should turn to reliable sources for the facts and speak to your doctor if you have any questions.
[ad_2]
Source link