Dr. Kurt Andersen, Chief Medical Officer for Genesis Health System, says in June and early July, younger, unvaccinated patients were being treated in local hospitals. But now, older people with underlying conditions are starting to end up in local hospitals.
Currently, 24 people are patients at Genesis hospitals in the Quad Cities area. About one-third of them have been vaccinated and are 65 and older. Andersen refers to them as "breakthrough infections."
About 70% of Genesis employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But the health system is requiring workers to get the shot before early November.
More than 90% of all positive cases and hospitalized patients are infected with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Dr. Andersen says the vaccines do not provide an "impenetrable barrier" to catching COVID-19. But it's still the best way to prevent it from spreading.
