Fully Vaccinated make up 70% of Rise in COVID Hospitalizations
New XBB Variant becomes dominant in High Vaccinated New England states
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maine had dropped to as low as 99 across the state on December 16th. This past week, there were as many as 141 Mainers hospitalized with/for COVID-19. As of Friday, there were 129 COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state.
Looking back on the ME CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough data updates, it’s clear that the fully vaccinated continue to be the mass majority of this recent rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations. From 11/28 to 12/26, 70% of new hospitalizations (107 of 154) were considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (Sources: ME CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Data Updates, 11/28 and 12/26).
New XBB Variant Dominates Across Highly Vaccinated New England
Maine is also one of several North Eastern States experiencing a surge in cases, due largely to the new XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant. Igor Chudov, who writes a substack called Igor’s Newsletter, chronicled this new development this week. He pointed to the US CDC’s Variant Tracker, which showed that the new variant had become dominant over the last 4 weeks. Specifically, the New England states are seeing the change in a dramatic fashion.
Coincidentally - or not - Maine joins Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont as the 4 most vaccinated states in the US. These states are effectively ground zero for this new variant that is spreading rapidly.
Dr. Dora Mills noted the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but stopped short of attributed it to the new variant, telling Maine Public that, “…we don't know if it's due to holiday gatherings or XBB, but it's probably both." Dr. Dora failed to mention - or Maine Public failed to report - that at least 70% of the recent hospitalizations are fully vaccinated.
Lack of Critical Care Beds as New Variant Emerges
What may be more concerning is the lack of available critical care beds for both adults and youth. At this moment, only 35 critical care beds are available in Maine and only 4 of which are available for youth.
This is not indicative of COVID-19 cases, but likely a combination of the flu and RSV. Last week, ME CDC reported that there were currently 87 individuals hospitalized for flu-like symptoms, bringing the total to 467 this season. RSV mostly impacts infants and toddlers, though it can also be serious for the elderly. This is most likely the cause of the lack of available critical care beds among youth.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, due to a new variant developing in the most highly vaccinated states. Flu cases and hospitalizations are increasing. Few critical care beds are available for sick children and the adult beds are becoming limited again.
Yet the ME CDC can only repeat the same advice.
Apparently, this is all they have to offer. Stay home, get your shots. You know, the shots that 70% of those currently hospitalized got.
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Live not by lies. Seek the Truth.
Doesn’t the math work something like this: If roughly 75% of Mainers took the jab then this figure of 70% makes it look like the un-jabbed are actually more susceptible to Covid. It’s all relative right. It would be helpful to understand one’s risk level, especially with the new variant on the increase. The statistics all through the fall seemed to be a 75%/25% split of ‘vaccine’ rates and hospitalization rates therefore indicating that no one had superior resistance to Covid. Can you help clarify this? Many thanks for your work and as we head into increased variants it is all the more important.