ONE of the senior public health officials in the Midlands has said those who are not vaccinated and boosted are facing increased risks of being hospitalised by Covid-19.
In the Midlands, around 20 per cent of eligible people have yet to have their booster – with only a third of under 30-year olds having taken up their booster to date – putting themselves at risk, as protection from the first two doses reduces reduced over time and needs a top-up to increase protection against Omicron.
Professor Mike Wade, interim regional director of Public Health for the Midlands is urging the unvaccinated to get jabbed.
He said: “With increasing case numbers, we are seeing more people admitted to hospital, and some end up having to undergo intensive care treatment.
“This can be traumatic for the individual and their loved ones. It also continues to put avoidable pressure on our hospitals at this time.
“The numbers speak for themselves.
“In the Midlands, approximately 70 per cent of patients in intensive care in hospital are unvaccinated.
“The vaccine is our best line of defence, and this includes the all-important booster dose.
“The region’s NHS and local authority partners are doing all they can to provide clinics for people of all ages, so that everyone eligible can take up the offer of the vaccine.
“We know that specific groups are putting themselves at risk by not taking up the vaccine – including men under 40 and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
“The vaccines are safe, and they greatly reduce the chance of getting seriously unwell, being hospitalised, or even dying, if you catch Covid-19. That’s why we are urging people to get vaccinated, get boosted, get protected.”
In the last seven days there were 83,163 cases of Covid-19 reported in the West Midlands, with a rate of around 1,395 per 100,000.
