Misleading: The COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective as most people admitted to hospitals with the virus are vaccinated.

By: Pallavi Sethi
November 25 2021

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Vaccines are not 100 percent effective. As most people are now vaccinated, some vaccinated people in hospitals with COVID-19 is to be expected.An Instagram account known for spreading vaccine misinformation has shared a screenshot of a fact check done by Full Fact. However, the user does not provide a complete version of Full Fact's check. The screenshot includes the headline ("most people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 are vaccinated") the claim that "about 80-90% of those hospitalised with Covid-19 are unvaccinated," and the verdict that states this used to be true but that the figure now is more like 35 percent. The post also includes several other screengrabs of the fact check; however, it fails to post the part that mentions vaccines are effective. From the information provided by the user, it can seem that the current COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective. However, if you read Full Fact's complete check, you will find that it explicitly states the "figures do not mean that the vaccines no longer protect people from severe illness" – a line not included in the post by the Instagram user. BMJ explains that when a high proportion of the population is vaccinated, it is normal to expect more vaccinated people in the hospital. COVID-19 vaccines are not 100 percent effective at preventing death, and some people will still die from the virus. When 100 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, those hospitalized will only be the vaccinated individuals. Despite vaccination, people with comorbidities and older people are more at risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. But this does not mean that the vaccines are ineffective. The current COVID-19 vaccines have reduced the overall number of people dying from the virus. In August 2021, the Independent reported that the current vaccines prevented around 100,000 deaths in the U.K. A recent report by the Official for National Statistics shows that the age-adjusted risk of deaths involving COVID-19 between January and September 2021 was 32 times greater in unvaccinated people than fully vaccinated people. It is clear from the above evidence that the Instagram user misconstrued official data to cause vaccine hesitancy. Logically has flagged the issue to Full Fact and reached out for comment. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.