With another 207 new cases of COVID-19 in NSW overnight, as well as the 15th fatality since this outbreak began, things are looking pretty dire for those of us under lockdown. But it doesn’t have to be this way – as the data shows, getting vaccinated is our ticket out of here. And it takes one look at the ICU numbers to remind us of how important getting the jab is right now, even for young healthy people like moi.
I think for some young people, it’s hard to see just how grim the COVID situation is. Last year we were more concerned for older Australians and a lot of us weren’t too worried about catching the virus ourselves. But the thing about the Delta variant is that actually, everyone is at risk.
Out of the 55 cases in ICU right now in NSW, seven are aged in their 20s. Over 25% of COVID-19 cases in the current outbreak in NSW have been people under 29 years of age. Basically, Delta isn’t fucking around.
Australia’s acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, gave a breakdown of all the recent COVID cases in NSW based on what the infected person’s vaccination status was. And unsurprisingly, there’s a direct correlation between not being vaccinated, and being hospitalised for COVID.
Per the Guardian, Professor Kidd said there had been “no notified cases of fully vaccinated people who had required admission to hospital”.
He said that from more than 2,700 locally acquired cases of COVID in NSW between 16 June and 28 July, a whopping 93% of those people had not yet been vaccinated, and 6% had only received their first jab.
“No fully vaccinated people have been admitted to intensive care units,” Professor Kidd said.
“No people who are fully vaccinated have died from COVID-19 during this current outbreak. Four percent of people admitted to ICU with COVID-19 have received one dose of a vaccine; 96% of those admitted to ICU are currently unvaccinated.”
UNDER 40s!
On this glorious Monday, why not treat yourself to a vaccine booking?Jump on HotDoc, pop your postcode in and go for gold 🥇
Remember – Hot people get vaccinated 🥰 pic.twitter.com/PTpQj5GXk0
— Amanda | Aesop Sample Gronk (@FlossyAmanda) August 2, 2021
NSW Premier and our lockdown overlord Gladys Berejiklian has said multiple times now that things aren’t going to get any better until most of us are vaccinated.
“Can I stress that August is the month where we all should come forward and get vaccinated,” she said.
“It will be a combination of seeing where the case numbers are in a month’s time as well as the rate of vaccination that determines what August 29 looks like.
“I have been saying for some months that 80% of the adult population vaccinated would get us freedoms beyond no more lockdowns and that is 10 million jabs.”
Getting vaccinated is super important for those of us that are under 40, because we’re the most mobile group of people, and therefore the most likely to not only become contacts, but also to spread the virus. It’s the best way to keep safe, and the only way we’re going to get out of these lockdowns.
All adult Aussies (yep, even those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
