95pct of Covid-19 dead in Sarawak were not vaccinated

 

Some 94.7 percent of those who died of Covid-19 in Sarawak did not have any history of vaccination against the Sars-Cov-2 virus, said the Sarawak health department.

This amounts to 425 out of 449 deaths up to Aug 8 in the Borneo state, which has the second highest rate of vaccination in Malaysia after the Klang Valley.

Sarawak health director Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed said of the remaining deceased, 21 (4.7 percent) only received their first dose while three (0.7 percent) died within 14 days of receiving either their first or second dose.

"This means that to date, Sarawak has not recorded any deaths from Covid-19 among those who have completed their vaccination, that is... 14 days after receiving both doses," he said in a statement today.

This is the first time a state health department has released this data on the vaccination status of Covid-19 deceased. This data is not published by the Health Ministry on a national level.

Up to Aug 8, 75.9 percent of all adults in the state have received both doses while 88.2 percent of adults have received at least one dose.

This amounts to 54.4 percent of the population, who have received both doses, while 63.3 percent have received at least their first dose.

Fewer patients needing intensive care

He added that the number of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care has already fallen following the surge in vaccinations.

Yesterday, only 44 cases, or 1.83 percent of all Covid-19 admissions, were in Categories 3, 4, or 5, he said.

This is a reduction from last month where 3.05 percent of all Covid-19 patients admitted were in Category 3, 4, or 5.

Category 1 and 2 patients suffer milder symptoms, Category 3 ones develop some form of pneumonia but can still breathe on their own, those in Category 4 need oxygen supply, while Category 5 patients need a ventilator to breathe.

The average number of patients needing intensive care dropped from 83 a day in June to 45 a day in July, and 27 cases a day in August to date.

"The department wants to stress that the Covid-19 immunisation is safe and effective in reducing the risk of severe illness or death, including for the Delta variant or other variants of concern," Sapian said.

However, he cautioned that those who are fully vaccinated can still be infected, although they will most likely be protected from severe illness or death.

This also means they can infect others who are unable to be vaccinated and are considered high-risk, such as those with chronic illnesses or children.

As such, the department urges those yet unvaccinated in the state to seek vaccination.

"You not only prevent yourself from severe illness but you can protect those who cannot be vaccinated, aged below 18, or have contraindications towards the Covid-19 immunisation," he said.

The state's Covid-19 intensive care unit admissions and deaths bucks the trend seen in various other states, including Johor and Sabah, where figures are climbing.

Sarawak was prioritised in the National Immunisation Programme starting May, in anticipation of a state election.

The state dispensed a combination of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer vaccines.

Sarawak also received the single shot CanSino vaccine to be dispensed in the interiors. - Mkini