Almost 90% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units in north east London are not fully vaccinated
Between 14 July and 2 September 2021, 203 patients with Covid-19 were admitted to intensive care units (ICU) across north east London (NEL). Of these, 90% (181) were not fully vaccinated, with most tending to be on average six years younger than patients admitted to ICU who are fully vaccinated.
ICUs play an important role in hospitals, including looking after patients undergoing major surgery, for conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Now, with one-third of ICU beds across NEL occupied by people with Covid-19, this surge in critically ill patients is having a significant impact on the care of other patients.
Parjam Zolfaghari, a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia at Barts Health NHS Trust said: “A considerable amount of resource is needed to treat patients in ICU, and those with Covid-19 are no exception. On average, a person with Covid-19 stays in an ICU bed for three times longer than ICU patients who are admitted with other conditions. The ongoing admission of patients with Covid-19 to critical care units is impacting on already stretched staff and, causing sustained pressure on services across north east London.”
He continues: “Nearly 90% of patients in ICUs with Covid-19 across NEL aren’t fully vaccinated. This clearly shows that getting two doses of a vaccine is the best way to reduce your chances of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and ending up in hospital. The individuals currently in our ICUs with Covid-19 are unlikely to have been admitted to intensive care if they had been fully vaccinated.”
To protect yourself and your loved ones, and to reduce pressures on our hospitals, everyone who is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine that hasn’t already had one is strongly advised to do so as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated will reduce your chances of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19, meaning your less likely to be admitted to hospital. This is better for you, will reduce pressures on hospitals and will reduce delays in care for other patients who need it.
You can receive a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre on The Street at Westfield, 7 days a week. For more information on other places to receive a vaccine, visit the North East London Commissioning Group website .
Watch the report from Channel 4 about unvaccinated people in ICU across north east London.
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