CDC study: Unvaccinated LA County residents 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Fully vaccinated people make up 25% of COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County, while those aren't vaccinated account for more than 71% of cases, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The remainder of cases, 3.3%, were among those who were partially vaccinated, according to the federal study published this week, which looked at cases between May 1 and July 25.

It also found people who were unvaccinated were 4.9 times more likely to be infected with the virus during that period and 29.2 times more likely to be hospitalized.

"The findings in this report are similar to those from recent studies indicating that COVID-19 vaccination protects against severe COVID-19 in areas with increasing prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant," according to the CDC report.

"Efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage, in coordination with other prevention strategies, are critical to preventing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths. Ongoing surveillance to characterize post-vaccination infections, hospitalizations and deaths will be important to monitor vaccine effectiveness, particularly as new variants emerge."

County health officials have repeatedly insisted that while people who get vaccinated can still contract the virus, they are far less likely to become seriously ill, require hospitalization or die.

"The data continues to provide reassurance that fully vaccinated people are protected from severe COVID-19 illness," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement Wednesday.

According to state figures, there were 1,731 COVID-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals as of Wednesday, down from 1,747 on Tuesday. There were 463 people in intensive care, the same as Tuesday.

The county reported 36 new COVID-19 fatalities, raising the county's death toll from throughout the pandemic to 25,150. Another 3,322 cases were also confirmed, raising the cumulative total to 1,391,363.

The latest figures show that 73% of county residents age 12 and over have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 64% are fully vaccinated. Among residents aged 65 and older, 90% have received at least one dose, and 80% are fully vaccinated.

City News Service contributed to this report.