Are COVID-19 vaccinations effective?
To answer this question, consider the following Scheme data that shows there is a definite link between COVID-19 disease severity and death, and lack of vaccination.
Across all the medical schemes administered by Fedhealth’s administrator Medscheme, we’ve observed an increase of 402 admissions since Tuesday, 3 May, and COVID-19 positive deaths in-hospital have climbed to 16 886 (an increase of 12 deaths since Tuesday the 3rd of May).
256 COVID-19 positive admissions have been recorded thus far for Week 17 of 2022, an increase from 189 COVID-19 positive admissions in Week 16. We are observing an uptick in COVID-19 positive admissions in KZN and Gauteng.
Vaccination “outcome” stats
In terms of the vaccination outcome stats, it is evident that the admission rate and mortality rate is higher in people who have not been vaccinated. (We’ve only used waves 3 and 4 given that the vaccination was not a factor in the previous waves.)
The first two tables show, for Fedhealth only, the number of admissions per wave and the vaccination status (likely to be underestimated as not all claims may have been received yet).
Wave 4, Fedhealth admissions:
|
Count of Member No
|
Vaccination status
|
|
Latest ward
|
Unvaccinated
|
Fully vaccinated
|
Partially vaccinated
|
Grand total
|
|
General Ward
|
29
|
4
|
2
|
35
|
|
High Care
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
Patient Discharged
|
421
|
91
|
26
|
538
|
|
Patient Deceased
|
28
|
9
|
2
|
39
|
|
Grand total
|
479
|
104
|
31
|
614
|
Wave 3, Number of Fedhealth admissions:
|
Count of Member No
|
Vaccination status
|
|
|
Scheme
|
Unvaccinated
|
Partially vaccinated
|
Fully vaccinated
|
Grand total
|
|
Fedhealth
|
1 856
|
64
|
30
|
1 950
|
The tables below show the vaccination status of the deceased members. 3% of these members were fully vaccinated, with 89% of the deaths occurring in the unvaccinated cohort.
Wave 3 and 4, Vaccination status of deceased members:
|
Count of Member No
|
Vaccination status
|
|
|
Scheme
|
Unvaccinated
|
Partially vaccinated
|
Fully vaccinated
|
Grand total
|
|
Fedhealth specific
|
353
|
30
|
12
|
395
|
|
When taking the whole Medscheme database into account, again, just over 3% of deaths were in a fully
vaccinated sample, and the majority (90%) were in those who were unvaccinated.
|
Count of member No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scheme
|
Unvaccinated
|
Partially vaccinated
|
Fully vaccinated
|
Grand total
|
|
Medscheme database
|
6 095
|
435
|
246
|
6 776
|
We continue to watch the “debate” on children at school and mandatory mask-wearing with interest.
Prof Shabir Madhi has been quite vocal on this topic, stating that the incorrect wearing of face masks
(and the fact that they are not K95 standard) is tantamount to offering no protection from the virus at all.
Time will tell and we will keep you updated.
In short, the answer to the question “are COVID-19 vaccinations effective?” is YES.
|
