Rate of infection ‘much higher’ among unvaccinated individuals
For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched a new data webpage, COVID-19 Illness After Vaccination (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-status.htm), which includes a visualization showing the rate of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths per 100,000 among individuals who are fully vaccinated versus individuals who are not fully vaccinated.
These data are also presented by month, beginning in Feb. 2021.
“By displaying the rates side-by-side, users can clearly see the difference in rates between these two groups,” DHS stated. “The overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites who are infected with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated.”
In July, Wisconsin residents who were not fully vaccinated were nearly three times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, according to DHS. Additionally, they were hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses at a rate 3.7 times higher than people who are fully vaccinated. People who are fully vaccinated also saw a 10-fold reduction in risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to individuals who are not fully vaccinated.
“The data clearly show that COVID-19 vaccines are still doing their job by preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” DHS stated. “However, because no vaccine is 100 percent effective in preventing infection, we do expect some infections among fully vaccinated people.”
Fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after their completed vaccine dose series are called “breakthrough infections” (www.bit.ly/3B3j1HT).
“The not fully vaccinated population includes all Wisconsin residents with no COVID-19 vaccine doses reported in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR), an incomplete COVID-19 vaccine series, and those who have not completed the two weeks following vaccination to build full immunity,” DHS explained.
“The increase in cases we are seeing in Wisconsin right now is being largely driven by the Delta variant, and the overwhelming majority of people who are contracting COVID have not been fully vaccinated,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “With the original strain of COVID-19, an infected person was likely to infect two other people, who were then likely to infect two additional people for a total of 6 cases from one infection. With the Delta variant, an infected person is likely to infect about five people, who are then likely to infect 25 people for a total of 30 cases from one infection. The COVID-19 vaccines are still doing their job by stopping the spread of many new infections, and by preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”
“The COVID-19 vaccines remain the one of the best ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19 and the highly infectious Delta variant,” DHS stated. “Unvaccinated people are encouraged get vaccinated as soon as they can and continue following local public health guidance. Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in schools and in public, indoor settings is critical to stopping the spread of the Delta variant.”
DHS encouraged those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to get tested. More information on testing sites can be found at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/testing.htm.
DHS recommended fully vaccinated individuals who have symptoms and are diagnosed with COVID-19 to “isolate from others and be clinically evaluated.”
To find a vaccination location, visit www.vaccines.gov or or call 211.