Health & Fitness
COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 51 While Vaccine Rates Keep Lagging
The Dept. of Health confirmed 51 deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the USVI has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — On Wednesday, the V.I. Health Deaprtment confirmed the territory's 51st death from COVID-19. A 53-year-old St. Thomas woman died from COVID-19 related complications. Currently, 18 people are hospitalized with the virus and eight people are on ventilators.
In the meantime, the U.S. Virgin Islands have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S., as reported by the New York Times. With only 48.7% of the adult population fully vaccinated, the USVI ranks in the bottom five of all states and territories.
Dr. Esther Ellis, Territorial Epidemiologist, reported on Tuesday that 49,919 Virgin Islanders have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 40,872 individuals are fully vaccinated. She issued yet another plea for Virgin Islanders to get the vaccine, emphasizing that every new case from COVID-19 is preventable.
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"The vaccines are working by reducing infections and preventing severe illness and hospitalizations," said Dr. Ellis. "Our hospitals continue to admit unvaccinated individuals with serious illness despite us having the tools to avoid this."
The data backs her up. According to a CDC study, people who are unvaccinated are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.
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Dr. Ellis also announced that immuno-compromised inviduals will be able to get a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine in the coming weeks.
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