The result is consistent with previous findings: the infection, hospitalization and mortality rates are significantly higher in the unvaccinated. This applies to the delta and the omicron variant. “The vaccination protects against severe courses and hospitalization,” summarized Arne Bathke, Dean of the Faculty for Digital and Analytical Sciences at the University of Salzburg, at an online press conference on Tuesday.
The linking of the data was made possible by a cooperation between the Salzburg State Clinics (SALK) and the State of Salzburg. Questions related to data protection had to be clarified beforehand. The investigation period included the delta wave from September to the end of 2021 and the subsequent omicron wave to the end of April 2022.
The focus of the analysis was the age group of over 65s. With increasing age, hospitalization also increases, explained state statistics head Gernot Filipp. “Vaccination has been shown to protect against infection. It is effective against hospitalization, particularly for ICU patients. Unvaccinated people over the age of 65 had a 4.3 times higher risk of dying than fully vaccinated during the delta wave.” During the omicron wave, this factor dropped to 2.6 times. “Statistically speaking, the vaccination prevented around 500 deaths in the 65+ age group in the eight months under review.” The analyzes had shown that only an age-specific evaluation of the data made sense.
Risk of hospitalization 3.5 times higher
Wanda Lauth from the IDA Lab Salzburg at the PMU and Stefan Senn from the state statistics compared the probability of coming to the hospital with Corona between vaccinated and unvaccinated people. “The risk of hospitalization was 3.5 times higher in the delta wave in unvaccinated people over the age of 65 than in people who were then fully vaccinated with two doses. In the omicron wave, the risk was 2.6 times higher one is considered fully vaccinated with at least three doses.” The risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit was almost six times lower in the fully vaccinated than in the unvaccinated during the delta wave. “During the omicron wave, 5.1 times fewer, in relative terms, fully vaccinated had to go to the ICU.”
The data specialists also found that vaccination protection against hospitalization decreases over time, usually after four months. “But the risk is always higher in unvaccinated people over 65 than in fully vaccinated people,” explained Lauth. In terms of length of stay in hospital, no significant difference was found between fully vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Older patients tended to be cared for longer in the hospital.
More extensive analysis planned
Bathke answered the question as to why Salzburg had not waited for a nationwide data evaluation: There was agreement with state politics not to wait for the Covid hospitalization register. The best preparation for autumn and winter is “evidence-based”, based on real facts and figures and a well-founded analysis of this data. The Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Interfaces at the University of Salzburg, which he heads, and the Intelligent Data Analytics (IDA) Lab Salzburg will continue to be scientific partners for the analysis of the database for the coming months. One is also in close contact with the Gecko crisis coordination and other bodies. “If we have a larger pool of data, we can make even more precise statements.”
The result of the previous analysis confirms that a complete basic immunization and the booster vaccination offer the “best possible protection”, summarized the country’s vaccination coordinator, Rainer Pusch. “Hopefully, this will also be a clear incentive for many to get vaccinated.” In addition to the around 400 ordinations in Salzburg that offer vaccination, the state is currently in the process of installing a vaccination line in every district from August 18 in order to be prepared in good time for a possible rush after the summer holidays.
Source: Nachrichten
