The values of analyses of COVID-19 vaccines uncovered by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) have been released at the same time additional doses of the vaccines have been recommended.
According to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton, SAHMRI’s analyses of 70,450 COVID-19 cases between 1 August and 31 October 2022 which took into account other risk factors including age, “shows just how important vaccination is in protecting against serious illness”.
According to the SAHMRI findings:
* Vaccination lowers the chance of hospitalisation and the probability of death, with each dose lowering the chance of each outcome further;
* South Australians with no vaccination were about eight times more likely to be hospitalised and about five times more likely to die than those with three or four doses;
* Those with one or two doses of vaccine were about three times more likely to be hospitalised and about two times more likely to die than those with three or four doses; and,
*Older age was confirmed as an independent risk factor for death and hospitalisation from COVID-19.
Mr Picton encouraged everyone to check the date of their latest vaccine or COVID-19 infection, and make sure they’re up to date with vaccinations to have the best possible protection from the virus.
“We know that the virus is here to stay and being up to date with vaccinations help to protect from the severe impacts of COVID,” Mr Picton said.
“Fifth doses are available from hundreds of GPs and pharmacies across South Australia with booking available online,” he said.
The Chief Public Health Officer for SA Health, Professor Nicola Spurrier said that for many people the time between vaccinations is long.
“For many of us, it has been over six months since our last vaccine dose or infection with COVID-19 and our immunity could do with a boost,” Professor Spurrier said.
“We are expecting further waves of COVID-19 this year and winter will also be a time of greater risk,” she said.
“So get ahead and get protected”.
