The vaccination had an impact on hospital admissions, said Yves Van Laethem.
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The high vaccination rate in Belgium (86.4% of those over 18) has had an undeniable impact on hospital admissions, explained the interfederal spokesperson for the fight against Covid-19, Yves Van on Friday. Laethem at a press conference.
“It is estimated that vaccination has prevented 30,000 hospitalizations in 2021,” he said. “Knowing that there have been 90,000 admissions since the start of the pandemic, this figure is significant”.
The higher risk for those over 65
These data come from a report by the Sciensano Public Health Institute on the epidemiological impact of vaccination published on Friday.
This report shows that, at the end of October, full vaccination coverage reduced the risk of being hospitalized by 88% and the risk of ending up in intensive care by 93% for people aged 18 to 64. This risk is higher in the over 65 age group, but remains limited with 63% fewer hospitalizations and 75% fewer intensive care admissions. This represents a slight drop in the effectiveness of the vaccine, visible since October.
The risk of death is also extremely low in people who have been vaccinated and ranges from -86% for those aged 85 to plus or minus 100% for those aged 18-54.
The effectiveness of vaccines, lower in terms of protection
However, the effectiveness of vaccines is much lower in terms of protection against infections. Indeed, if in July the fully vaccinated people were protected to the tune of 80-90%, this protection fell to reach, at the end of October, 52% among 18-64 year olds and barely 13% among those over 65. years.
“The decrease in protection against the risk of infection in people over the age of 65 could potentially be linked to the decline in immunity in this group vaccinated at the start of the campaign as well as the active circulation of the virus. since mid-October 2021, ”said Yves Van Laethem.
“More and more international studies are also pointing to the importance of a third injection for people at risk. “
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