Eight months of data finds nearly 90% of Covid-19 cases are in unvaccinated

A new report highlighting the efficacy of vaccinations in the fight against Covid-19 has been released as area medical centers issued pleas to residents to take precautions and National Guardsman are being sent to assist strained hospitals across the state.

Montana Department of Health and Human Services recently issued a release underlining new data which confirms what health officials have long been touting: the best tool against serious illness from covid is to get vaccinated.

The DPHHS report summarized eight months of Montana-specific data, finding that, between February to September, 2021, 89.5% of Covid-19 cases, 88.6% of hospitalizations and 83.5% of the deaths were among persons not fully vaccinated, including those not yet eligible for vaccination.

The report also examined a recent eight-week period from July 11 to September 4, 2021, and found that among all cases reported in persons eligible for vaccine, that Montanans who were not fully vaccinated contracted Covid-19 at a rate 4.4 times greater than fully vaccinated persons. And, the Covid-19-associated hospitalization and death rates were 5.1 and 3.3 times greater, respectively, among not fully vaccinated persons as compared with fully vaccinated persons.

DPHHS public health experts also noted the impact of Covid-19 disease on younger age groups. Adults aged 18-39 had the highest number of Covid-19 cases compared with other age groups among both the fully vaccinated and unvaccinated. However, adults in this age group who were not fully vaccinated experienced case rates 4.4 times higher than fully vaccinated persons in this age group.

Uninterested or unable to receive a vaccine?

There are other spread-slowing measures the state’s DPHHS currently recommends.

“In addition to encouraging vaccination, DPHHS encourages all Montana residents and visitors to exercise personal responsibility and take precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus, including wearing a face covering when appropriate, avoiding large crowds, staying home when not feeling well, and washing hands frequently,” said DPHHS acting State Medical Officer Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek.

According to MT DPHHS’ COVID-19 online dashboard, as of Sep. 28 45% of Madison County’s eligible population was fully vaccinated while 53% of the state’s population could say the same, which is 2% lower than the national average.

Vaccine approvals and recommendations

PFIZER:

Approved for: FDA approved for ages 16 and up, emergency use approval for ages 12-15 Booster?

CDC now recommends that people aged 65 years and older, residents in longterm care settings, and people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. Other groups may receive a booster shot based on their individual risk and benefit.

MODERNA

Approved for:

FDA emergency use approval for ages 18 and up Booster? Not yet approved.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

Approved for:

FDA emergency use approval for ages 18 and up Booster? Not yet approved.

For vaccine information, Montanans are encouraged to go to covidvaccine.mt.gov. Montanans can text their zip code to GETVAX (438829) for the nearest vaccination location.

Updated as of September 30,2021 at 1:42pm