KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - In a statement issued on Saturday 9 October, the Western Cape Department of Health (DoH) emphasised the importance of vaccinating members of the public over the age of 50.
It said that the latest evidence emerging from the province’s epidemiology team, based on data gathered in the third wave, illustrates that citizens older than 50 should receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a matter of urgency.
This is due to the high risk of severe illness in this group, as well as the relative benefit to be derived from vaccines.
In Premier Alan Winde’s weekly press conference last week, the following data was shared:
1. The analysis of deaths during the past 12-week period clearly show that 30% of all cases, 60% of admissions and 83% of deaths fall within the 50+ age group.
2. In vaccine effectiveness, data continues to show strong protection of full vaccination against severe disease and death. It also shows that partial vaccination does provide protection, but less so than full vaccination.
3. Vaccination status of admissions, hospitalisation and death of 50-plussers: the relative risk increases or diminishes corresponding to vaccination status. The figures for the specific week of 14 to 20 August show that 81% of people admitted to hospital were not vaccinated, and 83% of deaths were non-vaccinated people.
This explains the national target of having 70% of the population fully vaccinated by December. Vaccinations in the 50+ age group can offer a high level of protection in the next wave of Covid-19, which is expected to strike in early December.
According to Dr Cloete, head of health in the Western Cape, the risk in the 50+ age group is 7,5 times higher than the risk in 20- to 49-year-olds. While partial vaccination (only one dose of vaccine) lessens the risk of severe illness, full vaccination lessens the risk by 4,5 times.
These figures illustrate clearly that falling in the age category of 50+ is the single highest risk factor in the development of severe Covid-19 and death. Therefore, vaccination of the over-50 age group should be prioritised to save lives and to protect the health system.
How is WC doing?
Currently a total of 52% (1 402 252 people) of the Western Cape’s over-50 population has been fully vaccinated. To reach the 70% target, a further 365 981 vaccines need to be administered to persons of 50 years and older. To reach the target of 70% partial vaccination of 18 to 49 year-olds, a further total of 1 278 452 vaccines must be administered.
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