Unvaccinated people 20 times more likely to die from COVID: Texas study

November 9, 2021 – During the month of September, Texans who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 were 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and associated complications than those who were fully vaccinated, according to a new study from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The data also showed that unvaccinated people were 13 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.

“This analysis quantifies what we have known for months,” Jennifer Shuford, MD, chief state epidemiologist, Recount The morning news from Dallas.

“COVID-19 vaccines do a great job of protecting people from illness and death from COVID-19, ”she said. “Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this deadly disease. “

As part of the study, researchers analyzed electronic lab reports, death certificates, and state immunization records, with a particular focus on the month of September, when the contagious virus Delta variant swept through Texas. Research marks state’s first statistical analysis on COVID-19 vaccines in Texas and the effects, the newspaper reported.

The protective effect of vaccination was most visible among the younger groups. In September, the risk of death from COVID-19 was 23 times higher among unvaccinated people in their 30s and 55 times higher for unvaccinated people in their forties.

In addition, there were fewer than 10 deaths from COVID-19 in September among fully vaccinated people aged 18 to 29, compared with 339 deaths among unvaccinated people of the same age group.

Then, looking at a longer period – January 15 to October 1 – researchers found that unvaccinated people were 45 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people. The protective effect of vaccination against infection was strong in all adult age groups, but greater in 12-17 year olds.

“All COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are very effective in protecting people against serious illness or disease with COVID-19, including those infected with Delta and other known variants,” wrote the authors of study. “Real-world data from Texas clearly shows these benefits.”

About 15.6 million people in Texas have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in a state of about 29 million inhabitants, according to declare data. On 66% of the population have received at least one dose, while 58% are fully immunized.