The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services completed and in-depth analysis of COVID-19 vaccination rates and hospitalizations. It shows that individuals who received the vaccine, but not the booster are 11 times less likely to be hospitalized. Those who also got their booster were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Mathew Donahue tells KLIN News, “This was a sound analysis. These numbers are tracking with other states that are performing similar analysis and the CDC. We are excited to get this information out to help people who are considering getting vaccinated.”
One analysis showed that vaccines are safe. Nebraska death certificate data shows residents who were vaccinated are dying at lower rates than those who were unvaccinated, regardless of the cause of death.
The highly contagious Omicron variant is causing a number of break-thru cases. That has some wondering if the vaccine is a good preventative against that variant.
Donahue says, “We are seeing more cases of mild vaccine break-thru infections. We are not seeing severe break-thru infections. These vaccines are still doing what we need them to do the most. They are still keeping people out of the hospital and keeping people from dying. That is clearly apparent in real time even in our state. It is true. We are seeing more vaccine break-thru cases but the cases are mild. By far, people who are going to the hospital and people who are dying are people who have not been vaccinated. The vaccines are still protecting from severe illness.”
We are fortunate the vaccine was released before the highly contagious Omicron surge. Donahue says the variant is able to reach so many more people, it is able to net sending more people to the hospital than Delta. Had we seen Omicron earlier, we would have seen more hospitalizations and death.
DHHS urges all Nebraskans not yet vaccinated to consider getting their shot and booster as soon as possible. You can sign up at vaccinate.ne.gov or call their hotline at833-998-2275.