The data from the 315 patients about whom the pulmonologists reported tell a clear story, says Van den Toorn. “The picture will not suddenly become very different if we also knew the vaccination status of the remaining patients.”
The vast majority of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the week beginning July 12 had not been vaccinated or had not been fully vaccinated. “75 percent had not had a vaccination for some reason, which shows once again how important it is that everyone is fully vaccinated,” says Van den Toorn.
In his own Erasmus MC, many of the unvaccinated Covid-19 patients come from deprived areas. They often have a migration background. “Additional attention is really needed to boost the vaccination coverage in those neighborhoods and in villages where the same thing is happening.”
No explanation
One in twenty admitted patients suffered from a known immune system disorder, which reduces the protection against infections, even after vaccination. Van den Toorn: “These patients are not or less well able to form antibodies against the coronavirus.”
The NVALT survey does not provide an explanation for the hospital admissions of the equally large group of fully vaccinated patients. Unfortunately, their background has not been questioned. It is therefore not clear whether, for example, because of their advanced age, serious overweight or other underlying conditions such as serious heart and lung diseases, they were at extra risk.
Or that they are victims of the fact that the vaccines do not offer 100 percent protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. “Further research is needed into vaccinees who have been admitted with Covid-19,” says Van den Toorn.
“It may also be a poorer antibody response to vaccination and the coronavirus in some people. Research is already underway, including at Erasmus MC, where since this week the antibodies against the coronavirus in the blood of every Covid-19 patient admitted. be measured.”
Split evenly
The fully vaccinated covid patients who ended up in Dutch hospitals in the week of July 12, have received various vaccines. Hospitalization occurs after vaccination with Pfizer/BioNTech, as well as Moderna, as AstraZeneca and Janssen.
“It seems to be about evenly distributed among the different vaccines,” says Van den Toorn. “No vaccine comes out negative, but we have to be careful with that observation. It concerns very small numbers.”
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