Unvaccinated face a real risk of hospitalisation–vaccination is the only protection against serious coronavirus disease as society opens up
Most cases of COVID-19 and most patients who are hospitalised or in intensive care for a coronavirus infection are currently unvaccinated. Only a small proportion of those needing hospitalisation come from the large group of people who are vaccinated. An unvaccinated person faces a risk of needing hospitalisation that is many times higher than that of the fully vaccinated, and among those between the ages of 50 and 79, the risk of needing hospitalisation is 18 times higher among those who have not been vaccinated.
According to initial information, an unvaccinated person’s risk of dying of the coronavirus is many times higher than that of someone who has been vaccinated twice. Based on information gained in September, the risk is sevenfold.
Three out of four hospitalisations in September were for the unvaccinated
Of those who were hospitalised in September, 13 percent had been vaccinated twice, 13 percent had been vaccinated once and the remaining 74 percent had not been vaccinated.
In September more than 80 percent of those aged 12 and over had been vaccinated at least once and more than 60 percent had received two doses.
”Unvaccinated adults cause a large proportion of the need for hospitalisation from coronavirus. In September three quarters of all hospitalisations were among the completely unvaccinated”, says THL Chief Physician Otto Helve.
“It should also be noted that among the fully vaccinated there are more people with an illness that increases susceptibility to a serious case of coronavirus disease, or one that is aggravated by coronavirus disease. The unvaccinated are younger on average, with fewer underlying illnesses. Nevertheless, the risk of the unvaccinated to require hospitalisation because of the coronavirus is considerably greater on average.“
About 18 percent of those who have been in intensive care in September were fully vaccinated. The percentage of fully vaccinated patients in intensive care is likely to grow over time, when the proportion of unvaccinated people among the population decreases and the proportion of those who have been vaccinated grows.
In practice, the need for hospital treatment has applied only to adults, as the need for hospitalisation for the coronavirus has been quite rare among children.
“For children the need for hospitalisation still has not increased. The role of children in spreading the epidemic is also very small”, Helve says.
More fatalities on average among unvaccinated
All of those who died of coronavirus infection in September were over the age of 60 and most of them were over 80.
There were 29 coronavirus deaths in September, 12 of which were among the unvaccinated, 2 among those who had been vaccinated once, and 15 among those who had been vaccinated twice.
“Most of those aged 60 and over, 89 percent, are fully vaccinated and 11 percent are inadequately vaccinated or unvaccinated. Only a very small proportion of the age group is completely without vaccine protection. Consequently, the number of deaths is significantly higher among the unvaccinated”, Helve says.
The unvaccinated should avoid situations with a high risk of infection
THL advises the unvaccinated to continue to avoid situations in which there is a high risk of coronavirus infection.
“The unvaccinated should avoid high-risk situations because they are at a significantly higher risk of hospitalisation from a serious form of the disease than those who are fully vaccinated. For example, taking part in night life without the protection of the coronavirus vaccine is risky at the moment”, Helve says.
The risk of contracting coronavirus at events of different kinds can be evaluated with the help of a chart drafted earlier by THL. The evaluation table for potential risk was originally produced to help regional officials in their decision-making, but it can be utilised by anyone.
Evaluation of risk linked with the coronavirus for events and gatherings (in Finnish)
Being vaccinated against coronavirus reduces risk of disease requiring hospitalisation
All vaccine preparations in use in Finland give good protection against a coronavirus infection and excellent protection against serious cases requiring hospitalisation.
“Those who have taken a full series of coronavirus vaccines can rest assured that the risk of a serious illness is significantly smaller than without the vaccines”, Helve says.
Further information:
Otto Helve
Chief Physician
THL
[email protected]
