Economy 3 December 2021, 5:02pm

Hungarian Medical Chamber drops info morsel on vaccination status of Covid patients in ICUs

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The Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK) has decided to assume the role of Don Quixote and, firmly aiming its lance of information, courageously launch an attack on the government’s windmills that have been grinding the black grains of sub-par data since the coronavirus outbreak.

The relevant local authorities continue to keep information for themselves or deny even having it on the vaccination status of those that are admitted in hospital with coronavirus infection, require intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, and eventually die.

Apart from the fact that the data are definitely there and it would take only slightly more effort than hitting a couple of keys on the right keyboard, we can be certain in view of international examples that the local statistics would also underpin the fact: COVID-19 vaccines effectively prevent severe disease and death.

As the cabinet continues to rely heavily (almost solely) on vaccinations, it is incomprehensible why such data are kept out of public reach. However, this perfectly reflects the official stance on anything Covid-related: Don't bother with these complex figures, we got this!

The Hungarian Medical Chamber has on Friday shared at least some data on the number of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients among 125 of them currently treated in intensive care units.

Of the 125 ICU patients

70 are intubated (invasive ventilation);
35 are in noninvasive (NIV) ventilation; and
20 receive oxygen via face mask.

As regards their vaccination status:

87 are unvaccinated;
31 received their full vaccination more than four months ago;
7 were fully vaccinated within four months; and
2 of the latter group had three doses.

These numbers don’t tell us much, except that vaccination is important. The percentages should not be used to draw far-reaching conclusions other than this: vaccines are effective preventing severe disease and death. Period. We must also be aware that their effectiveness wanes over time. If you got your second jab (or only jab if you are inoculated with Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine) more than four months ago, you’d better get a third (booster) dose as soon as you can, unless you have a medical reason not to. If you want to stay out of hospital, don’t like having a tube down your throat, or would like to refrain from dying for a little while longer, that is.

The above figures show that 56% of those in ICUs are ventilated while intubated (invasive), 28% are in NIV and 20 receive oxygen via face mask.

As for the percentages in the vaccination status of the patients, 70% are unvaccinated, 25% had their last shot more than four months ago, 6% were fully vaccinated within four months, including 2% of the total that received their booster shot, as well.

Without having an age breakdown or comorbidities of these patients, the numbers and percentages should be considered as a rough guidance.

The MOK said “many” of the 87 unvaccinated patients are in their 30s, while those inoculated are generally between 70 and 90 years of age.