While recent seven-day averages of COVID-19 hospitalizations across the country have remained stable, Michigan health officials have seen an “alarming” increase in unvaccinated people. In the first three weeks of March, officials saw a 633 percent increase in hospitalizations among adults between the ages of 30 and 39 and an 800 percent increase among those between the ages of 40 and 49. .
“Michigan is making progress in defeating the COVID-19 pandemic by raising vaccination rates, but the war is not over yet,” Gary Roth, a medical officer with the Michigan Hospital and Health Association (MHA), said in a press release. Now is not the time to let our guard down and risk contracting COVID-19 with more contagious variants that appear and vaccines become widely available. ”
On Monday, the state opened vaccine eligibility for adults over the age of 50, as well as for people 16 years of age and older who have disabilities or other medical conditions. Caregivers and guardians of eligible people aged 16 and over can now receive the vaccine. The state will open the eligibility of all adults starting April 5.
“My recipe for all Michiganderers is to wear a mask, wash your hands, avoid congestion, and when it’s your turn, get your vaccine,” Roth said. “You should continue to take preventative measures even after you are vaccinated, because it takes at least two weeks for the full protection of a vaccine to start after the last dose and it will take some time to vaccinate everyone.”
The data showed a correlation between hospitalization rates and vaccination rates among older populations. Those aged 80 and over had the highest vaccination rate of 40 to 50 percent and also saw the lowest hospitalization rates of nearly 0 percent. Officials said the correlation shows the effectiveness of vaccines.
“The data also indicate that, although older adults have an even higher risk of hospitalization, the percentage of hospitalized patients under the age of 40 has doubled, showing that adults of any age are vulnerable to complications of the disease,” the release said. said.
The state registered over 636,600 COVID-19 cases and almost 16,000 deaths.