The epidemiological data are grim after yesterday’s record of 4,608 cases and 326 intubations, and even before everyone even returns from their vacation.
Scientists and the government are monitoring the evolution of the pandemic, which is defined by the aggressiveness of the Delta mutation, which already has had an impact on the health system and the possibility of new measures is not ruled out, perhaps immediately.
The data are relentless: ICUs are full of unvaccinated, while several of the intubated are younger persons, as the dominant Delta mutation is highly dispersed in this age population. It is indicative that “within a week we lost six people aged 18 to 39”, while in the intensive care unit with coronavirus, there is a child aged only 12 years.
Experts warn of a difficult autumn as they see the picture on the islands, fearing that when the return of tourists is completed in September, we may have a new outbreak of something that will lead to an increase in imports and pipelines.
The ICUs were filled with unvaccinated persons
They also point out the risk of facing tragic dilemmas in hospitals, such as the reduction of intensive care units provided for other diseases, or the choice of which patients will be treated and which will not be treated.
Scientists make calls on a daily basis for mass vaccinations of the population, constantly assuring that vaccines are safe and that vaccinated people have a minimal risk of becoming seriously ill.
The data for unvaccinated citizens are revealing:
– They are 9 out of 10 intubated
– They are 13 times more likely to be intubated when they get sick
– They are 20 times more likely to be intubated if they are over 60
If everyone was vaccinated, we would have 10 to 20 people in the ICU
“The reality is very clear we have two adult populations in our country, vaccinated and unvaccinated, if they were all vaccinated, in the intensive care we would have only 10 to 20 people. So it would not be a topical issue. The numbers are slowly but steadily increasing “, said at Open, the president of the Panhellenic Medical Association Athanasios Exadaktylos, against the background of the black record of cases that was recorded on Tuesday.
“Within a week we lost six people aged 18 to 39,” he said, noting that a 12-year-old boy was in intensive care due to a coronavirus.
“There is a debate in the world community about the effectiveness of the vaccine and the need for a third dose; it is a pity that people are missing, 32 died yesterday (Tuesday, August 24), they are unvaccinated, listens only to beliefs and not to scientists. “If a large part of the world’s population is not vaccinated, we will have new mutations all the time.”
“If more people had been vaccinated, we would have had a lower risk of spreading to hospitals and health centers,” Athena Linou, a professor of epidemiology, told MEGA. “I think we should all be vaccinated,” he said, adding that Greece is among the 15th-16th in the European Union in terms of vaccinations. “We have to improve it.”
At the same time, he stressed that we must wear a double mask, as the mutant strain is very aggressive and we must protect ourselves. “A mask for everyone and everywhere,” he said characteristically.
The unvaccinated are the source of over-transmission
“This summer is much worse than last year”, regarding the course of the pandemic in the country, Nikos Kapravelos the director of the ICU of “G. Papanikolaou” hospital stressed speaking to ANT1.
As he said “the pandemic has changed its image, it has become very dangerous, the Delta mutation has prevailed due to the spread and does not spare the vaccinated nor the unvaccinated”
According to Mr. Kapravelos, “the situation is considered critical due to the executive who has become more dangerous”. He added that “we have a large increase in cases which is very worrying and we have a very dangerous strain without having built a wall of immunity.”
“The unvaccinated are the ones who are most easily infected and spread the virus. It is a source of over-transmission of the infection that can lead to new pressure on the health system with tragic consequences,” Mr. Kapravelos also underlined.
The coronavirus raises the bar for the immune wall
According to experts, the epidemiological indicators will soon start to increase unless something prevents them, such as the vaccination of 1/3 of the population that remains unvaccinated.
This is something that Mr. Exadaktylos pointed out, who underlined that “for the wall of immunity, unfortunately, every time the virus sets our bar higher. An 80-85% vaccination rate is now required.
He himself rang the “bell” for vaccinating people over the age of 50: “It is urgent to vaccinate people over the age of 50 as they are going to get seriously ill during the 4th wave,” he told Sky. He noted that only 8% of those currently intubated have been vaccinated.
The four reasons to get vaccinated
“We are in a phase that is not epidemiologically good. The Delta strain has a large dispersion, so we have a large epidemiological burden. “Unfortunately, there is a need to take measures”, said the professor of infectious diseases, Charalambos Gogos, in “Society Hour MEGA”.
“We have a powerful weapon, the vaccine. We have a large number of vaccinated people, six million people, and the ability to vaccinate everyone. Therefore, there is a need to take measures but also to protect the vaccinated population. So one tries to balance the need for some measures and the continuous activity of the economy and society. “This leads to protecting some areas from the unvaccinated,” he added.
According to Mr. Gogos, there are four reasons for people to be vaccinated:
Protection of personal health, at a rate of 90%
The protection of public health.
The protection of the NSS
The protection of society as a whole and the economy.
“Last year, at such a time, activities were closed,” said the professor, noting that the percentage of vaccinated patients is much lower.
Regarding the use of the mask, he said that “with this spread, this vaccination coverage, the wall of immunity is such that it does not allow its removal.”
At the same time, he stressed the need to control the measures announced yesterday, talking about betting. “All measures to succeed must be combined with proper supervision and control.”
