Fully vaccinated persons in Scotland are now hospitalized at greater levels than the fully unvaccinated, with an ever-growing number of the elderly becoming seriously ill because of vaccine durability issues. Due to the waning immunity of the COVID-19 vaccines, the elderly and other at-risk cohorts raise the fully vaccinated COVID-19 hospitalization levels higher than the unvaccinated. Of course, the vaccinated make up a much larger percentage of the total population. Hence, with breakthrough infections and leaky vaccines, the fully vaccinated represent a greater number of total people hospitalized. Nevertheless, this data counters the narrative that it’s primarily the unvaccinated that populate the great majority of hospital acute care and ICU beds.
The mainstream press in Scotland, such as The Herald, now report on the growing breakthrough infections and associated hospitalizations. The unvaccinated now are hospitalized at lower rates than the fully vaccinated!
Regardless, back in America, the POTUS went on the record again in his most recent speech that this remains “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” Biden elaborated that the unvaccinated end up in the hospital much more, while the vaccinated overwhelmingly experience mild to no symptoms when they experience breakthrough infections.
Yet, from Canada to England to Scotland, TrialSite reports that ever accumulating numbers of hospitalized patients are fully vaccinated.
As reported recently by the Scottish government, that is why public health authorities seek to better understand the breakdown of hospitalized patients due to COVID-19 versus those hospitalized with other conditions. In the Scottish government’s latest report, 68% of COVID-19 related acute hospital admissions involve a primary COVID-1 diagnosis. This figure equaled 75% in March of 2021. Deaths are down markedly from previous surges.
New Cases
Despite some of the highest vaccination rates in the world, cases have absolutely skyrocketed due to Delta and now the even more infectious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. This latest surge started in early December and new daily infections appear to be on a downward trend. However, by January 3rd all previous records of daily new cases were shattered with over 51,000 cases in one day.
Deaths related to COVID-19 are on an upward trajectory based on the sheer number of infections; however, overall, the death rate is far lower than during the first couple of COVID-19 surges in 2020. This can possibly be explained by several variables, including vaccination.
What about Vaccinations?
Scotland’s population is heavily vaccinated. By January 6, 2022, about 91.5% of the population aged 12 and up were at least partially vaccinated while 84.3% of the population aged 12 and up was classified as fully vaccinated. Public Health Scotland reports low levels of deaths among the vaccinated, indicating the benefit of vaccination in mitigating the risk of death.
By the first week in January 2022, 63.6% of the population aged 12 and up had received a third booster dose. TrialSite shares a bar graph depicting the high vaccination rates in Scotland: