The latest data from the Vermont Department of Health shows vaccinations are not preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations or deaths at a significant rate when compared to unvaccinated counterparts.

According to the Vermont Department of Health’s biweekly COVID-19 Data Summary, released Friday, there have been 105 hospitalizations and 47 deaths amid the 3,606 “breakthrough” cases reported. That’s 29 more hospitalizations the report two weeks ago, when the tally was 76 hospitalizations of vaccinated Vermonters. Over the same two week period there were 14 more deaths among the vaccinated — the new tally up to 47, compared to 33 two weeks ago.

On page 23 of the report there is data outlining how many COVID-19 cases result in hospitalization per age group. The data shows that, as similar to reports about the death certificates associated with the virus, the majority of those who end up in the hospital with COVID-19 are among the elderly.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE?: Vermont continues to see increasing ‘breakthrough’ cases of the COVID-19 virus, including some that lead to hospitalizations and deaths.

For example, 63.5 percent, or nearly two out of three Vermonters who are hospitalized with COVID-19, are over 80 years old.

Among younger populations the risk of hospitalization becomes negligible. As of Oct. 6, 4.6 out of every 10,000 Vermonters who experienced COVID-related hospitalizations were recorded for those under age 30.

And for under age 60, only 44 out of every 10,000 Vermonters have been hospitalized from the virus. Also for under age 60, as of Oct. 6, 3.9 out of every 10,000 Vermonters have died COVID-associated deaths.

On page 7, a graph shows the relationship between testing frequency vs. positive test results. The data indicates that when testing is ramped up, more cases are reported. This is a trend that concerns critics of COVID-19 testing due to the large percentage of asymptomatic cases.

The report notes that hospitalization does not imply intensive care. Of all the COVID-19 related hospitalizations to date, only 7 percent were put on a ventilator and 22 percent were put into intensive care, and the average stay is about a week.

The governor continues to push vaccines even for those who have recovered from COVID and developed natural immunity.

“We encourage people to be vaccinated after, if they become a Covid case, to give you all the protection, more protection, on top of your natural immunity,” Scott said last week at a press conference.

NewsRescue.com highlighted a report that 76 percent of Vermont’s September COVID-19 deaths were among the vaccinated. The state’s total population vaccination rate is about 78 percent.

Resistance to vaccine mandates continues both in Vermont and across the nation. A protest event organized by Health Choice Vermont is set to take place  Saturday, Oct. 16 in Burlington.

Vaccine manufacturers continue to claim high efficacy rates for their vaccines.

“The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 peaked at 96.2% at seven days to two months after the second dose and then declined to 83.7% at four months, a preprint from Pfizer has reported,” reports BMJ.com.

A state that has taken a strong pro-vaccine choice stance has been Texas. In that state, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement on the matter.

“In another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” he said. “… No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a Covid-19 vaccination by any individual.”

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.