While recent seven-day averages related to COVID-19-related hospitalizations across the country have remained stable, Michigan health officials have seen an “alarming” increase among unvaccinated people. During the first three weeks of March, officials recorded a 633 percent increase in hospitalizations among adults ages 30 to 39 and an 800 percent increase among people ages 40 to 49.
“Michigan is advancing in the final defeat of the COVID-19 pandemic through increased vaccination rates, but the war is not over yet,” said Gary Roth, a physician with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) , in a press release. “Now is not the time to drop our guard and risk contracting COVID-19 with new, more contagious variants and available vaccines.”
On Monday, the state opened the requirements for the vaccine to adults 50 years of age or older, as well as people 16 years of age or older who had disabilities or other medical conditions. Eligible caregivers and guardians of people 16 and older can now also get the vaccine. From April 5, the state will open the requirements to all adults.
“My recipe for all Michiganders is to wear the mask, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and when it’s time to take the vaccine,” Roth said. “You should continue to take preventative measures even after you get vaccinated, because it takes at least two weeks for the full protection of the vaccine to start after the last dose and it will take everyone to get vaccinated.”
The data showed a correlation between hospitalization rates and vaccination rates among larger populations. People aged 80 and over had the highest vaccination rate ranging from 40 to 50% and also recorded the lowest hospitalization rates, close to 0%. Officials said the correlation shows the effectiveness of vaccines.
“The data also indicate that while older adults still have a higher risk of hospitalizations, 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 news explains. said the release.
The state has reported more than 636,600 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 16,000 deaths.