Vaccinated Hospitalizations In Ireland: The Facts

how many double vaccinated in hospital ireland

While Covid-19 vaccines have been proven to be effective, there are still cases of double-jabbed people being hospitalised. In Ireland, St Vincent's hospital in Dublin has admitted a worrying number of double-vaccinated patients for Covid-19 treatment. Almost a quarter of Covid-19 intensive care admissions and daily case numbers are in fully vaccinated people, the HSE has revealed. Hospitalisations among the double-jabbed are overwhelmingly in people with underlying conditions.

Characteristics Values
Date 20 August 2021
Total number of Covid-19 hospitalisations 244
Number of Covid-19 patients in ICU 53
Percentage of ICU patients who are unvaccinated 62%
Percentage of ICU patients who are fully vaccinated 20-23%
Percentage of total hospital admissions who are fully vaccinated 45%
Percentage of the adult population who have received their first vaccine dose 90%
Percentage of the adult population who are fully vaccinated 84%
Number of children in the 12-15 age group who have received a vaccine 124,000
Total number of vaccines administered in Ireland 6.5 million
Percentage of people aged 65-70 who have been double-jabbed 70%
Percentage of risk reduction for being hospitalised if fully vaccinated 90%

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Double-vaccinated people are still being hospitalised with Covid-19

While Covid-19 vaccines have been proven to be effective, double-vaccinated people are still being hospitalised with the virus. In Ireland, St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin reported a "worrying" number of double-vaccinated patients being treated for Covid-19. This trend is not unique to Ireland, with other countries in Western Europe, such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany, also experiencing rising infection rates.

There are several factors contributing to the hospitalisation of double-jabbed individuals. Firstly, the vaccines are not 100% effective, and even a small percentage of "breakthrough infections" can result in hospitalisations, especially among the elderly and vulnerable. Additionally, changing risk factors and the presence of underlying conditions can increase the likelihood of hospitalisation for vaccinated individuals. Age also plays a significant role, as the risk of hospitalisation increases with age.

While the Covid-19 vaccine does not prevent infection, it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and death. Hospital admissions and deaths among double-vaccinated individuals are often a result of waning immunity, particularly in the elderly. To address this, booster jabs have been introduced to provide additional protection and reduce the risk of serious infection.

It is important to note that the rate of fully vaccinated individuals in hospitals will continue to grow as more people get vaccinated. As Prof David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University, stated, "If fully vaccinated, the risk of being hospitalised falls by about 90 per cent...But it doesn't disappear, and as a large proportion of the highest-risk people are now vaccinated, it's inevitable they will start to form the majority of people with Covid in the hospital."

Despite the hospitalisations among double-vaccinated individuals, the total number of Covid-related hospitalisations is significantly lower than it would be without the vaccines. The vaccines remain effective in preventing severe illness and reducing the strain on healthcare systems.

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Vaccines are not 100% effective

While Covid-19 vaccines have been highly effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalisation, and death, they are not 100% effective. In Ireland, almost a quarter of Covid-19 intensive care admissions and daily case numbers are in fully vaccinated people, particularly those with underlying conditions.

The effectiveness of vaccines can wane over time, and new variants of the virus can emerge that the existing vaccines are less effective against. For example, in the UK, elderly and vulnerable people who were double vaccinated started dying of Covid-19 due to waning immunity. This prompted the rollout of booster shots to restore immunity and protect against new variants.

Additionally, the risk of hospitalisation or death from Covid-19 is influenced by various factors, including age and underlying health conditions. In Ireland, about 35% of adults are not fully vaccinated, and most of them are young and healthy, with a lower risk of severe disease. As a result, the majority of those hospitalised with Covid-19 may be fully vaccinated simply because they constitute a larger proportion of the population.

It's important to note that the Covid-19 vaccines were never intended to completely eliminate the risk of infection or hospitalisation. Instead, they aim to reduce the likelihood of severe disease, hospitalisation, and death. While breakthrough infections can occur in vaccinated individuals, research suggests that they are less likely to experience Long Covid compared to unvaccinated individuals.

Furthermore, the high levels of transmission and the fact that a significant portion of the population is still not fully protected contribute to the number of vaccinated individuals in hospitals. As more people get vaccinated, it becomes more likely that those who are hospitalised will be vaccinated, not because the vaccines are ineffective, but because the risk is significantly reduced, and most unvaccinated people are at low risk.

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Breakthrough infections can lead to hospitalisations

While Covid-19 vaccines have been proven to be effective, breakthrough infections can still occur and lead to hospitalisations. In Ireland, St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin has reported a "worrying" number of double-vaccinated patients requiring treatment for Covid-19. This trend is not unique to Ireland, with other countries in Western Europe, such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany, also experiencing rising infection rates.

It is important to understand that the Covid-19 vaccines do not provide perfect protection, and breakthrough infections can occur even in fully vaccinated individuals. Several factors contribute to the hospitalisations of double-jabbed individuals. Firstly, the vaccines are not 100% effective, and while they significantly reduce the risk of serious illness and mortality, some breakthrough infections can still occur. The risk of hospitalisation is also influenced by age, with older individuals being more vulnerable. Additionally, the presence of underlying health conditions can increase the risk of hospitalisation, even for those who are fully vaccinated.

Another factor to consider is the vaccination status of the population. In Ireland, about 35% of adults were not fully vaccinated as of July 2021. As more people get vaccinated, the proportion of vaccinated individuals in hospitals may increase, not because the vaccines are ineffective, but because the absolute number of infections among the vaccinated is small compared to the total number of vaccinated people. This is particularly true for vulnerable and elderly individuals, who were prioritised for vaccination and make up a significant portion of the vaccinated population.

While the risk of hospitalisation is reduced by about 90% for fully vaccinated individuals, it does not disappear entirely. As the number of infections rises, so will the number of hospitalisations, including those who are fully vaccinated. This is especially true for high-risk individuals who have been vaccinated but may still contract Covid-19 and require hospitalisation.

It is worth noting that the risk of hospitalisation is significantly lower for vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated ones. The highest percentage of Covid-19 patients in ICU are unvaccinated. Therefore, it is crucial to continue promoting vaccine uptake to protect individuals from severe disease and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

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The risk of hospitalisation is reduced by 90% after vaccination

Vaccines are not 100% effective, and even a small percentage of "breakthrough infections" can lead to a large number of hospitalisations, especially in older or vulnerable groups. While the Covid-19 vaccine does not prevent infection with the disease, it significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and mortality.

In Ireland, almost a quarter of Covid-19 intensive care admissions are in fully vaccinated people, the HSE revealed. However, hospitalisations among the double-jabbed are "'overwhelmingly' in people with underlying conditions". Of total hospital admissions, 45% are fully vaccinated, while 52% are among people who are not fully vaccinated. The HSE chief executive Paul Reid said that 62% of ICU cases currently in hospital are unvaccinated.

Despite the high number of vaccinated people in hospitals, the risk of being hospitalised is still reduced by about 90% after vaccination. Prof David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University, affirms this, stating that "If fully vaccinated, the risk of being hospitalised falls by about 90 per cent." However, he also notes that the risk does not disappear, and as more vulnerable people get vaccinated, they will inevitably form a larger proportion of hospitalised Covid patients.

The rate of vaccinated people in hospitals is also influenced by changing risk factors and the overall vaccination rate in a population. In Ireland, about 35% of adults are not fully vaccinated, and most of them are young and healthy, with a lower risk of severe illness. As such, the majority of those in hospital with Covid-19 will be unvaccinated and younger, contributing to the overall lower risk of hospitalisation for vaccinated individuals.

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The majority of those in ICU are unvaccinated

While Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective, no vaccine is perfect. A small percentage of fully vaccinated people will still get sick, be hospitalized, or die from Covid-19. This is especially true for the most vulnerable members of society, who were among the first to be vaccinated. As a result, it is inevitable that they will start to form the majority of people with Covid-19 in hospitals.

In Ireland, almost a quarter of Covid-19 intensive care admissions are of fully vaccinated people, according to the HSE. However, hospitalisations among the double-jabbed are "overwhelmingly" in people with underlying conditions. The HSE chief executive Paul Reid said that 62% of ICU cases currently in hospital are unvaccinated.

ABC News conducted a similar survey, contacting 50 hospitals in 17 states and asking them to share data on their ICU Covid-19 patients' vaccination status. They found that the overwhelming majority of Covid-19 patients currently being treated in ICUs were unvaccinated. Of the 271 total Covid patients in the surveyed ICUs, 255 patients, or approximately 94%, were unvaccinated. Of the 16 vaccinated individuals receiving care in the ICU, almost all suffered from comorbidities and other health problems, such as cancer or weakened immune systems.

The Covid-19 vaccine significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and mortality. According to Prof David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University, "If fully vaccinated, the risk of being hospitalised falls by about 90%."

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Frequently asked questions

As of August 2021, 45% of all hospital admissions were fully vaccinated, while 20-23% of ICU admissions were fully vaccinated.

The Covid-19 vaccine does not prevent infection with the disease, but it significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and mortality. The risk of being hospitalised is still about 10% for vaccinated people, and this small percentage of breakthrough infections can lead to a large number of hospitalisations, especially in older or vulnerable groups.

As of August 2021, 84% of the adult population of Ireland were fully vaccinated.

Hospitalisation rates are much higher for the unvaccinated. 62% of ICU cases currently in hospital aren't vaccinated at all.

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