COVID Death 120 Times More Likely In Unvaccinated: RivCo Health

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — During Tuesday's Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting, health officials provided more insight into the rate of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations among fully vaccinated residents.

It was also acknowledged during the meeting that some local hospitals are now in surge capacity amid an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Health officials have long said that no vaccination provides 100 percent protection, but questions have swirled about the number of fully vaccinated Riverside County residents who have been sickened and hospitalized by the virus.

Between February and August 17, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Riverside County among unvaccinated people was 37,242, and 765 of those people died, Kim Saruwatari, Riverside University Health System public health director, told the Board on Tuesday.

During the same time period, 3,761 vaccinated residents contracted the virus and 23 of those people died, Saruwatari reported.

"Unvaccinated individuals are 37 times more likely to get COVID than those who are fully vaccinated," Saruwatari said of the Riverside County figures. "Unvaccinated individuals are 120 times more likely to die from COVID than those who are fully vaccinated."

During the period July 27 - Aug. 17, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated residents accounted for more than 90 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Riverside County, according to Saruwatari. The hospitalization figures include patients admitted due to COVID-19 and those admitted for other medical issues and who tested positive for the virus.

Saruwatari did not have information about the county's pediatric hospitalizations, but she did provide a breakdown that showed a stark difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated children in the 12-17 age group (a population that is eligible for vaccination): 7,348 COVID-19 cases have been reported among the county's unvaccinated kids in that age group compared to just 60 cases among vaccinated juveniles in that same age range.

Countywide, 69.8 percent of kids ages 12-15 are unvaccinated, and 58.6 percent of children in the 16-17 age range are unvaccinated, according to RUHS data. As a whole, 52.6 percent of county residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

Riverside County Public Health Director Dr. Geoffrey Leung was on hand for Tuesday's meeting and addressed the question of natural immunity for those who have been infected with the virus. Without vaccination, people who have contracted the virus can expect that in three to eight months after infection they will "probably lose immunity," Leung said.

"Vaccine provides a much stronger immune response," he said.

First District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries made a point during the COVID-19 presentation to thank the Riverside University Health System Medical Center's health care workers who are now dealing with an influx of patients. According to Jeffries, the hospital is in surge capacity.

Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel said several hospitals in her district are also in a similar situation.

Local hospitals have not been in surge capacity since last winter.

Riverside County COVID-19 hospitalizations stood at 625 Tuesday, with 132 of those patients in intensive care units, according to RUHS data. The figures represent an uptick of four and one, respectively, since Monday's reporting.

The number of COVID-19 cases stood at 329,184 Tuesday morning, an increase of 1,213 new infections since Monday's update.

The death toll was reported at 4,707 by RUHS, an increase of six people since Monday. Fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can date back weeks.