Iowa hospitals say majority of COVID-19 admissions are unvaccinated – KCCI Des Moines

Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital told KCRG the vast majority of COVID-19 patients admitted are unvaccinated.COVID-19 hospital admissions overall have declined as more people in Iowa get vaccinated for the virus. But health care workers are encouraging more people to get vaccinated, especially as new coronavirus variants spread.“The trends we are seeing reinforce the importance of getting the vaccine,” said Dr. Tony Myers, Mercy’s chief medical officer. “Though improved, I am concerned with the sustained low level of community spread of the virus and the anticipated increase with new variants.”The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 62 people are hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19, with 11 having been admitted in the last 24 hours. There are 15 patients in the ICU and 9 on ventilators. More than 1,460,000 people in Iowa are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19. More than 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state.“The number of people who are vaccinated in Linn County will prevent a return to previous levels of illness, but we are far from being rid of COVID-19,” said Dr. Dustin Arnold, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital chief medical officer. “We encourage the community to come together and increase our immunity with vaccination.”

Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital told KCRG the vast majority of COVID-19 patients admitted are unvaccinated.

COVID-19 hospital admissions overall have declined as more people in Iowa get vaccinated for the virus. But health care workers are encouraging more people to get vaccinated, especially as new coronavirus variants spread.

“The trends we are seeing reinforce the importance of getting the vaccine,” said Dr. Tony Myers, Mercy’s chief medical officer. “Though improved, I am concerned with the sustained low level of community spread of the virus and the anticipated increase with new variants.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 62 people are hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19, with 11 having been admitted in the last 24 hours. There are 15 patients in the ICU and 9 on ventilators.

More than 1,460,000 people in Iowa are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19. More than 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state.

“The number of people who are vaccinated in Linn County will prevent a return to previous levels of illness, but we are far from being rid of COVID-19,” said Dr. Dustin Arnold, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital chief medical officer. “We encourage the community to come together and increase our immunity with vaccination.”