Western Standard | 14 Oct 2021
In the 40-49 age group, of the 101,094 cases, rates among the vaccinated were 1,281.8 per 100,000 verses 690.2 per 100,000 for the unvaccinated.
COVID-19 infection rates are now higher among the vaccinated population in the UK according to new government data, however hospitalization rates continue to be higher among the unvaccinated.
A vaccine surveillance report released by the UK Health Security Agency shares data calculated between weeks 36 and 39 of 2021. The report shows cases are higher in those who have been double vaccinated in all age groups over 30 years old.
In the 40-49 age group, of the 101,094 cases, rates among the vaccinated were 1,282 per 100,000 verses 690 per 100,000 for the unvaccinated.
For those between the age of 50-59, out of 70,731 cases, infection rates were 840 per 100,000 for the vaccinated and 503 per 100,000 for the unvaccinated.
For those 60-69, and rates of infection for the vaccinated is 563 per 100,000 compared to 333 per 100,000 for those unvaccinated with similar rates for those between 70-79 years of age.
For the age group 30-39 and those over 80, case rates in the vaccinated population are nearly equal with the unvaccinated.
However, infection rates are significantly higher in those under 18 who are unvaccinated. Of the 305,428 cases, the rate of infection for unvaccinated is 2,326 per 100,000 verses vaccinated at 279 per 100,000.
Infection rates are also higher for unvaccinated individuals in the age group 18-29. Of the 67,820 cases, 688 per 100,000 are unvaccinated while 410 per 100,000 are vaccinated.
Hospitalization and death rates also remain higher in the unvaccinated groups aged 30 and up.
A recent study was conducted examining 5.6-million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older on the effectiveness of vaccines against the delta varient.
Using data collected from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), findings also show that “an estimated 71% of COVID-19 cases occurred in fully vaccinated individuals.”
An epidemiologist based in the U.K. spoke with CNBC explaining why he believes cases remain so high among both the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
“The Delta variant is highly contagious and this accounts for the continuing high number of cases now that we’re mixing much more freely since most restrictions were eased,” said Dr. Andrew Freedman from Cardiff University School of Medicine.
“Those catching COVID now are a mixture of unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and double vaccinated people. We know that the vaccines are only partially effective at preventing people from catching the Delta variant, but are much more effective at protecting against severe disease, hospitalisation and death.”
As of Tuesday, more than 85% of those eligible to be vaccinated in the U.K. received one dose while close to 79% of the population have been fully vaccinated.
