Younger, unvaccinated adults drive surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A new report found a direct correlation between vaccine coverage and hospitalization rates in Michigan as hospitalization rates in the state skyrocket.
As of March 25, 2021, 1,843 people in Michigan were hospitalized from the virus, up from 843 on Feb. 26. During that period the number of people needing intensive care jumped from 217 to 369.
The report from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association showed most of the surge could be attributed to unvaccinated people.
Data from member hospitals, collected between March 1 and March 23, found the increase in hospitalizations in age groups with low vaccination rates outpaced groups with higher vaccination rates.
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While hospitalizations increased 37% for people age 80 and older during that period, among people 30-39 hospitalizations increased 633% and among people 40-49 they jumped 800%.
State data shows 45.3% of people 75 and older in Michigan were fully vaccinated, as of March 25. Just 10.7% of people 30-39 are fully vaccinated while 12.3% of people 40-49 had completed their immunization.
"What we’ve seen so far in the Bronson system, no one that we think has been fully immunized has been admitted for COVID-pneumonia and no one has died,” Dr. Richard Van Enk, Bronson Healthcare Group director of infection prevention, said. “The real value of immunization is in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.”
Van Enk expected as more people continued to get vaccinated that hospitalizations would decline. He said it was still crucial to follow basic safety recommendations, including wearing masks.
