The DOH released data today that revealed that 98.8 percent of COVID-19 deaths in New York City were of those people who had not been fully vaccinated– from Jan. 1 through June 15 (Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)
July 14, 2021 By Christian Murray
New York City’s vaccination campaign has prevented as many as 8,300 COVID-related deaths, the City’s Department of Health reported today.
The DOH, citing a study conducted by epidemiologists at Yale University, said that the city’s campaign has also prevented 250,000 COVID-19 cases and 44,000 hospitalizations since it began through July 1, 2021.
The DOH also released data showing the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and the risk the virus presents to unvaccinated people.
Between Jan. 1 and June 15, 98.4 percent of hospitalizations (36,628 out of 37,211) and 98.8 percent of deaths (8,069 out of 8,163) from COVID-19 infection were of those people who had not been fully vaccinated.
The DOH is calling on all New Yorkers aged 12 years and older to get vaccinated given its effectiveness.
“Vaccines are safe and astonishingly effective at protecting you and your loved ones,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi in a statement. “Our city has been through too much suffering to allow hospitalizations and death to needlessly continue. The stakes are so high, and we simply cannot emphasize enough how urgent it is for New Yorkers to get vaccinated.”
The DOH said that 4.3 million New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. However, it noted that many New Yorkers have yet to receive the vaccine and are still at risk of COVID-19 and potentially severe outcomes like hospitalization and death.
The vaccination rates vary among racial groups. For instance, only 36 percent of adult Black New Yorkers are fully vaccinated compared to 53 percent of adult white New Yorkers and 79 percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers.
The rise of more infectious variants, according to the DOH, also poses a threat, particularly to unvaccinated New Yorkers.
As of July 9, there were 309 confirmed and probable cases (seven-day average), up 72 cases from the week prior.
Source: DOH
