A review of new data showed nearly everyone who was hospitalized due to COVID-19 or died from the disease over a two-week period in June were not fully vaccinated, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
“The overwhelming majority of people who are continuing to get COVID-19 and who are getting hospitalized and dying from this disease are those who are not fully vaccinated,” assistant state epidemiologist Jane Kelly said during a statewide media update. “I can’t think of a more impactful point to make that would encourage someone who hasn’t yet received their shots to do so right away.”
Vaccination status in those affected in newly reported cases, deaths and hospitalizations between June 1 and June 14 were analyzed. Status could not be determined in some cases where patients refused or could not say definitively whether they’d been vaccinated or were unable to be reached.
Of the 1,635 newly reported cases of COVID-19 for which vaccine status was determined, 1,540 cases, roughly 94%, were found in people not fully vaccinated. Of the 92 cases that required hospitalizations, 83, or 90.2% were those not fully vaccinated.
Of the 11 reported deaths for which vaccine status was determined, all 11 were considered not fully vaccinated.
South Carolina’s fully vaccinated rate of 43% is comparable to the rates of several other states that are currently experiencing outbreaks and significant increases in reported case numbers, according to a DHEC press release.
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