Not long ago, as recent as Nov. 23, several politicians and media have declared there to be a ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’ (should actually be not-vaccinated). While this misguided rhetoric has now been dialed back, the data now shows, that the claim was not quite substantiated when it was made.
A few weeks ago a letter titled “The epidemiological relevance of the COVID-19-vaccinated population is increasing” was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe containing the following statement:
High COVID-19 vaccination rates were expected to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in populations by reducing the number of possible sources for transmission and thereby to reduce the burden of COVID-19 disease. Recent data, however, indicate that the epidemiological relevance of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals is increasing. In the UK it was described that secondary attack rates among household contacts exposed to fully vaccinated index cases was similar to household contacts exposed to unvaccinated index cases (25% for vaccinated vs 23% for unvaccinated). 12 of 31 infections in fully vaccinated household contacts (39%) arose from fully vaccinated epidemiologically linked index cases. Peak viral load did not differ by vaccination status or variant type [1].
The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 11
There is now quite substantial evidence in the data from the UK in support of this claim.
Data of hospitalisations in weeks 44 to 47:
It can be seen from the data above, that for age brackets 40-49 and below, more not-vaccinated need hospitalisation than vaccinated do. Above that age brackets it’s the reverse.
Data on deaths in weeks 44 to 47:
It can be seen from the data above, that for age brackets 40-49 and below, more not vaccinated deaths are record than vaccinated do. Above that age brackets it’s the reverse.
Naturally, this needs some context. The vaccination rates in these age brackets is not identical. The lower the age bracket, the lower the vaccination rate – at least for now:
In conclusion it can be stated, that at least for the UK, there are now more vaccinated people needing hospitalisation that not-vaccinated do.
Obviously, this does not prove that “vaccinations do not work”, but it does disprove the claim that somehow the not-vaccinated were taking hospital beds away from the vaccinated.
Full COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report, week 48: