James Morrow: You are more likely to die in a car crash than from Covid

A new study from the US - which is undergoing a resurgence of the Delta variant - shows there are many more things more likely to kill you than Covid, writes James Morrow.

If the experience of other countries is anything to go by, once we hit our vaccination targets fear of the virus will be as big a challenge for getting back to normal as the virus ­itself. But here’s a bit of good news that should help to shut down commentators who say the vaccinated are still at risk, and that we can never really live freely again.

A study by the conservative leaning Heritage Foundation found in the US – where 176 million people are fully vaccinated and another wave of Delta is sweeping the country – someone who has been double-jabbed has a one in 31,030 chance of being hospitalised from Covid.

In terms of dying with both jabs, the figures suggest a one in 137,698 risk – without factoring in age or comorbidities.

People lining up for their vaccination at the NSW Vaccine Centre at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

While the figures are from the US so some risks (gunshots, for example) don’t really apply in Australia, the numbers show one is far more likely to die from a fall or in a car crash than Covid if one has had both jabs.

And, as both temperatures and vaccination rates rise, the numbers show you have around a 30 times greater risk of drowning than you do of winding up in the hospital if you’ve had both jabs.

Not to give the panic merchants any ideas, but once most of us have had the jab, getting Covid is not the real danger that comes from going to the beach – no matter how close the person on the next towel is sitting.

Originally published as James Morrow: You are more likely to die in a car crash than from Covid