Around nine in 10 Covid-related deaths were among those who had yet to take a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, figures from May to the present in East Khasi Hills reveal.
Out of 504 Covid deaths in the district since May 1, 449 were among the unvaccinated. Another 54 died after receiving one dose of the vaccine (partial protection) and only one person died after receiving both doses.
“Two doses of Covid-19 vaccine leads to a stronger immune response and protection against severe Covid disease and hospitalization,” the District Surveillance Unit stated.
Health authorities also informed that of the 504 deaths during this period, 400 fatalities were among people who had co-morbidities, while only 95 were in those without co-morbidities, while the status of the remaining nine was unknown.
Meanwhile, around one in every five of the deaths (97 in all) in the period were in people who were either declared dead on arrival at hospital or who died at home. The other 407 died in hospital but this includes those people who were admitted at a late stage in the progress of the infection.
The mortality figures also show that the age groups at highest risk are those 45 and above. There were 158 deaths in the 45-59 category and 243 in the 60-plus.
“Mortality and morbidity are highest among the elderly, the co-morbid and the unvaccinated, who may have been infected through symptomatic/asymptomatic carriers,” the DSU said.
