94% Of WA COVID-19 Deaths Were Not Fully Vaccinated: Study

ACROSS WASHINGTON — The overwhelming majority of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Washington are among those who are not fully vaccinated, according to a new study from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).

For its study, the DOH analyzed data from the Washington Disease Reporting System and Washington Immunization Information System, comparing who was getting sick versus who was vaccinated. By looking at cases between February and June 2021, the DOH found that:

• 97.4 percent of COVID-19 patients were not fully vaccinated.
• 96 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations were in those not fully vaccinated.
• 94.3 percent of COVID-19-related deaths were in patients who were not fully vaccinated.

To be considered fully vaccinated, a patient must have waited at least two weeks since they received their second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or their sole shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The DOH data shows that, as of Saturday, nearly 4.4 million Washingtonians were fully vaccinated — around 61.4 of vaccine-eligible Washington residents. That's good news, health leaders say, because this recent study highlights just how dangerous it can be to be unvaccinated right now.

State leaders continue to urge those who have not yet been vaccinated to consider doing so, especially now that the more-infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has become the dominant strain in Washington state.

“We urge those who are eligible to get vaccinated. If they still have questions, we encourage them to speak to their healthcare provider,” said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. “We all have a role to protect our community, especially those who are most vulnerable.”

For those who will not or can not receive the vaccine, wearing a mask while in public is the next best option, the DOH said. Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday held a news conference urging Washingtonians to continue wearing masks while in indoor public spaces — or to get vaccinated and hasten the end of the pandemic.

"I know it's frustrating for people to even have to think about [masking], but that's the situation we are in, and the more people who get vaccinated, the less we'll have to think about this," Inslee said.

Related: All Washingtonians Should Mask Up Again, Inslee Recommends