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While it may seem to some like COVID-19 is on the back burner, hospital admissions for the virus are still ongoing, with almost all of the workload falling on unvaccinated patients.
In a report from KXAN, Dr. Desmar Walkes of the Austin-Travis County Health Department announced that more than 90% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
As of Friday evening, 89 people were in hospital in the district because of the virus. At least 80 of them are unvaccinated, and more than 40% of the patients are under 50 years of age, according to the city of Austin.
99% of new COVID-19 hospital admissions across Texas are unvaccinated, according to a report by the WFAA. Some doctors call it an “intermediate phase” during which the virus transitions from a global threat to a routine, preventable disease.
“Existing vaccinations are still more than 90% effective in keeping people safe,” said Adrienne Sturrup, APH’s interim director, in a July 2 press release. “It is more important than ever to have these discussions about vaccinations and why they are so important to families and our community in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
Just over 70% of Travis County’s residents over the age of 12 have received a dose of the vaccine, and 60% are fully vaccinated. Austin Public Health is still working on a milestone that 70% of people will be fully vaccinated by Labor Day.
More than seven months after vaccination efforts began, APH said vaccination rates are starting to stabilize, causing a shift in the range of vaccines. Currently, APH is focused on “pocket” vaccinable and areas of systemic inequality, and is working with the Central Texas Food Bank to set up pop-up vaccination clinics in community grocery stores, churches, neighborhood centers, and apartment complexes.
“What we find anecdotally is that people like to be met on their own terms,” said an APH spokesman. “We are intensifying contact within the neighborhoods and working together with our community partners such as the Capital Food Bank. People can pick up food and personal protective equipment, see their neighbors and get vaccinated at the same event. These have been well received in neighborhoods like Blackland “and Zaragoza, areas where historical differences persist, especially for color communities.”
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