Logan Reid
Vaccination against COVID-19 has been a key public health strategy in the UK. While vaccines have proven effective in preventing severe illness and reducing hospitalisations, there have been concerns about the number of fully vaccinated individuals being admitted to hospitals. In July 2021, a UK health official incorrectly stated that 60% of hospitalised patients were fully vaccinated, sparking discussions about vaccine effectiveness. Data from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust revealed that around 90% of COVID patients in intensive care were unvaccinated, with a majority being relatively young. Uptake of vaccines among NHS staff has also been an area of focus, with approximately 89% of NHS employees in England fully vaccinated as of November 2021. Freedom of Information requests regarding hospitalisations and vaccination status have been made, but specific data on the number of fully vaccinated individuals in hospitals in the UK may not be readily available or may be limited to specific regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of latest data | 3 December |
| Data availability | Only available for hospitals in England |
| Number of people in ICU with Covid-19 complications in the UK | Data not available |
| Number of people hospitalised because of Covid-19 | Data not available |
| Number of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in hospital "because of" Covid-19 | Data not available |
| Number of cardiac arrests in fully vaccinated people | Data available |
| Number of cardiac arrests in 2019 compared to 2021 | Data available |
| Number of cases of blood clotting in 2019 compared to 2021 | Data available |
| Percentage of fully vaccinated NHS staff in England | 89% |
| Number of NHS staff in England yet to get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine | 100,000 |
| Percentage of fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients in intensive care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | 10% |
| Percentage of unvaccinated Covid-19 patients in intensive care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | 90% |
| Number of people in the UK who would not have died or been admitted to hospital due to Covid-19 over the summer of 2022 if they had been fully vaccinated | 7000 |
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What You'll Learn
- A fifth of NHS staff are not fully vaccinated
- Vaccines reduce the need for hospital treatment
- NHS England publishes monthly figures on staff vaccination rates
- A large study found 7000 hospitalisations could've been prevented with full vaccination
- A UK health official incorrectly stated 60% of hospitalised patients were fully vaccinated
A fifth of NHS staff are not fully vaccinated
As of November 2021, a fifth of NHS staff in England are still not fully vaccinated against Covid, with official figures showing that more than 1,000 workers at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust out of its 6,000 employees are yet to get two doses of the vaccine (79.5 per cent). At Barts Health NHS Trust in East London, 4,000 out of 24,000 employees are yet to be fully vaccinated. However, nationally, 89 per cent of NHS employees in England have received both doses of a Covid vaccine, and more than 92 per cent have received at least one dose.
Uptake was highest in the South West and South East, but lowest in London, with 16.5 per cent of staff yet to get two doses of the vaccine, followed by the Midlands at 10.2 per cent. No hospital trust had reached 100 per cent uptake, which was expected since some staff may be medically exempt or have had reactions to the first dose.
Ministers have considered making Covid jabs compulsory for NHS staff from April, with reports suggesting that 120 hospitals already have more than 90 per cent of staff double-jabbed. However, unions have warned that this could lead to a wave of resignations when hospitals are under the most pressure from Covid and other respiratory diseases. The government has also faced challenges with enforcing the "no jab, no job" policy in care homes, with tens of thousands of care home workers facing potential dismissal due to their vaccination status.
NHS staff were prioritised in the vaccine rollout, and they have been able to get their first dose since December 2020. The latest monthly data from NHS England, published on September 30, shows that some 100,000 NHS workers are yet to get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.
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Vaccines reduce the need for hospital treatment
Vaccines play a crucial role in reducing the need for hospital treatment. They achieve this by providing protection against diseases, thereby lowering the risk of infection and severe illness. This, in turn, helps prevent hospitalisations and alleviates pressure on healthcare systems.
In the context of COVID-19, vaccines have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Medicine revealed that COVID-19 vaccines lower the likelihood of hospitalisation due to SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. This finding underscores the importance of vaccination in controlling the pandemic.
While no vaccine is 100% effective, vaccination against COVID-19 has been highly successful in preventing hospitalisations. In the UK, Public Health England cited a study suggesting that two doses of the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are over 90% effective in preventing infections that require hospitalisation. This means that even if a vaccinated individual contracts COVID-19, their chances of requiring hospital treatment are significantly reduced.
The impact of COVID-19 vaccines on hospitalisations is evident in the statistics. The UK's vaccination program is estimated to have prevented over 52,600 hospitalisations, highlighting the crucial role vaccines play in reducing the burden on healthcare services.
Additionally, it is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccines have been particularly effective in protecting older adults, who are at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalisation. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and following preventive measures are crucial for this age group.
In conclusion, vaccines, specifically those against COVID-19, have proven to be highly effective in reducing the need for hospital treatment. They achieve this by offering strong protection against infection and severe illness, thereby lowering the burden on healthcare systems and improving overall health outcomes.
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NHS England publishes monthly figures on staff vaccination rates
The figures also show variation among different NHS trusts. For example, at Barts Health NHS Trust in East London, 17% of employees (4,000 out of 24,000) are yet to receive their first dose. In contrast, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust has a higher vaccination rate, with 80.2% of staff receiving two doses.
The UK government has considered making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all hospital staff, similar to the policy implemented for care home workers. However, unions have warned that this could lead to resignations, causing further strain on the NHS during the winter months.
In addition to staff vaccination rates, NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) publish weekly and monthly statistics on Covid-19 vaccinations in adult social care settings. These statistics include data on both staff and residents in older adult care homes, with a focus on the number of individuals who have received their first vaccine dose. As of April 27, 2021, 95% of residents and 81% of staff in older adult care homes in England had received their first vaccine dose.
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A large study found 7000 hospitalisations could've been prevented with full vaccination
A study published in The Lancet in January 2024 found that over 7,000 COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths could have been prevented in the UK during the summer of 2022 if the population had been fully vaccinated. The study, conducted by the University of Edinburgh and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), analysed the anonymous data of the UK's entire population of 67 million.
The research revealed that between a third and half of the UK population did not receive the recommended number of vaccinations and boosters by the summer of 2022, with younger people among the most likely to skip doses. With approximately 40,000 severe hospital admissions related to COVID-19 during that period, the study estimates that 17% of these cases, or more than 7,000, could have been avoided if everyone had taken the vaccine and booster doses for which they were eligible.
The findings emphasise the importance of vaccination in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes. Professor Aziz Sheikh, the study's co-lead, highlighted that "COVID-19 vaccines save lives," and that the study's insights can help tailor public health campaigns to specific groups and areas within the country. Furthermore, Professor Cathie Sudlow, Chief Scientist at HDR UK, suggested that the methodology used in this study could be applied to other areas of medicine, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, to improve understanding, prevention, and treatment.
While the study focused on the UK, its implications extend beyond. Similar modelling studies have been conducted in China and the UK, and while direct quantitative comparisons are challenging due to differing contexts, the qualitative findings are consistent. The consensus is that mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and the UK's National Health Service continues to recommend vaccination to prevent infections that require hospitalisation.
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A UK health official incorrectly stated 60% of hospitalised patients were fully vaccinated
In a July 19 press conference, the U.K.’s chief science adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, incorrectly stated that "around 60% of hospitalized patients had been fully vaccinated." This misinformation was repeated in a viral Facebook post, which was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat fake news. The post did not acknowledge Vallance’s correction, leaving a misleading impression.
The corrected statistic suggests that 40% of hospitalized patients are people who were at least partly vaccinated. This data raised concerns about the vaccine's effectiveness, with Fox News host Tucker Carlson questioning why so many vaccinated people in the U.K. were being hospitalized.
However, it is important to note that vaccination still helps prevent a large number of hospitalizations. While no vaccines are 100% effective, studies suggest that two doses of Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are over 90% effective in preventing infections that require hospitalization. The U.K.’s vaccination program is estimated to have prevented millions of infections, deaths, and hospitalizations.
The spread of misinformation and the correction of the initial statement highlight the importance of accurate communication, especially regarding public health issues. It underscores the need for officials and media platforms to be vigilant in verifying and disseminating factual information to the public.
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Frequently asked questions
A UK health official incorrectly stated that 60% of hospitalized patients had been fully vaccinated. The actual figure is 0.48%.
With two doses, both the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are over 90% effective in preventing infections that require hospitalization.
Latest figures from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust reveal that around 90% of COVID-19 patients in intensive care are unvaccinated.
