Inarguable proof that vaccines work against Covid-19

Data from Sydney’s current outbreak has shown that “there couldn’t be stronger proof that vaccination saves lives and protects lives”.

Data from Sydney’s intensive care units and aged care centres amid the city’s current outbreak has shown that “there couldn’t be stronger proof that vaccination saves lives and protects lives”, the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has said.

The NSW capital recorded its worst day of the pandemic yet, with infections soaring to 239 and the death toll rising to 13. But buried within those statistics was a crucial number revealing why the state’s current crisis won’t be resolved any time soon.

A NSW Health spokeswoman confirmed to news.com.au that out of the 182 patients in hospital in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, 54 people were in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation. And the overwhelming majority of those cases are yet to receive their vaccine.

“Of the 54 people in ICU, 50 people are not vaccinated, one person received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine recently and three people received their first dose of the Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant made a frank – but devastating – admission about the path Sydney’s outbreak will likely continue to take, telling reporters that with the current level of cases being recorded, “we are going to continue to see further deaths”.

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Sydneysiders are being urged to support elderly family members and friends, encouraging them to get vaccinated. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

“And, sadly, too many elderly people in our communities are not protected. When I reviewed the Commonwealth vaccination data, which is readily available online, sadly, 25 per cent of people over 70 are still yet to receive their first dose,” she said.

“I cannot urge you [enough], as members of the community, to reach out and support your elderly family members and friends to get vaccinated.

“The vaccine does not work immediately in providing protection, but even one vaccine [dose] can reduce your risk of hospitalisation and death and it can also prevent onward transmission.”

To combat the increasing cases and try to bring the outbreak under control, all Sydneysiders over the age of 18 are being urged to come forward and receive the AstraZeneca jab.

By the end of the week, all NSW adults will be able to receive the vaccine at health clinics and mass vaccination centres, with around 450 pharmacies also joining the program from next week.

The key to NSW’s “dual approach” out of its current lockdown, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, was not just locking down and implementing restrictions, but “high rates of vaccination”.

“The evidence is there. If you want to protect those you love the most, not only do you need to respect the health orders, but encourage vaccination, and the evidence is there,” she told reporters.

“Again, there isn’t anybody that we know of that has had both doses of a vaccine who is in intensive care. We know the vaccine works and you can’t get any more evidence than … I will say that again, it is important. There is no stronger evidence than the fact that two doses of the vaccine are keeping people out of hospital.

‘They are also reducing how contagious you are. If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones, get vaccinated. That is the strongest message we can send.”

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While Sydney’s hospitals may be showing how badly we need the jab right now, data from the city’s aged care centres have proven just how well it’s working.

Despite a total of more than 2500 infections across NSW, only six cases have been recorded among residents in aged care facilities. In comparison, at this time last year there had been 547 cases of Covid-19 among those in aged care in Victoria, as its second wave gathered pace, and 73 deaths among a total of 15,304 cases.

Speaking to The Australian, Mr Hunt said the total prevention of aged care deaths and the very low numbers of infections there during the Delta outbreak in Sydney was proof that vaccinations were reducing the chances of infection and saving lives.

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‘The real world evidence from last year in Victoria compared with this year in Sydney could not be more stark,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Picture: Ian Currie/NCA NewsWire

Across 2566 facilities, 82 per cent of residents have now been fully vaccinated, while 86.4 per cent have received at least one dose – preventing the nightmare scenario Victoria faced.

“The difference is just inconceivable,” Mr Hunt said.

“There couldn’t be stronger proof that vaccination saves lives and protects lives.

“It significantly reduces, but doesn’t prevent, your chances of catching or transmitting the disease. Overwhelmingly, it reduces the numbers of cases and it’s absolutely clear that it provides enormous protection for everybody, particularly among the most vulnerable.

“The real world evidence from last year in Victoria compared with this year in Sydney could not be more stark.”

– With Alexis Carey