Majority of COVID-19 cases in NSW’s Delta outbreak were unvaccinated
NSW recorded 412 COVID-related deaths between June and October, with only 47 of those fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, an unvaccinated Sydney man in his 30s died from the virus overnight.
The majority of people in NSW who have tested positive to COVID-19 during the latest wave of the outbreak, between June and October this year, had not received a coronavirus vaccine.
Figures from NSW Health, released on Monday, show 63.1 per cent of the 61,8000 people who became infected with the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus during this period (June 16 to October 7) reported they were not vaccinated.
Just over 9 per cent (9.2 per cent) of people who contracted the virus had received one dose of a vaccine, and 6.1 per cent were fully vaccinated. The vaccination status of 21.7 per cent of people was reported as unknown because they did not match a record in the Australian Immunisation register, NSW Health said.
“Throughout the NSW outbreak, across all ages, people who have received 2 doses of vaccine have substantially lower rates of COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 than unvaccinated people,” the department said.
“However, vaccination does not completely protect people from infection and other recommended public health measures should continue to be observed.”
During the period under review, 8660 people were hospitalised with the virus in NSW and 1,015 were admitted to intensive care. The state recorded 412 coronavirus-related deaths.
Of the total number of people who were hospitalised, 30 of those admitted to intensive care and 47 of those who died were fully vaccinated.
“Of the 47 cases who died with COVID-19 who had two doses of vaccine, their average age was 82 years; 29 (61.7%) were residents of aged care facilities and the other 18 had significant comorbidities.
“Of the 30 admitted to ICU, 26 (86.7%) had significant co-morbidities and 4 had no reported comorbid conditions.”
NSW’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said “the COVID-19 Delta outbreak has been the biggest challenge the state has faced during the pandemic because of its transmissibility.
“However, this report shows vaccination has been key in protecting ourselves, our families, and the community from the harmful effects of the virus”.