Unvaccinated Arizonans had 57.9 times greater risk of dying from COVID in December

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PHOENIX – Newly released data shows that unvaccinated Arizonans were 57.9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 in December than people who were fully vaccinated and 24.4 times more likely to be hospitalized.

Today’s #COVID19 dashboard update adds 7,794 cases and 61 deaths. Vaccines save lives: As Omicron took over in December, the fully vaccinated were 24.4 times less likely to be hospitalized and 57.9 times less likely to die than the unvaccinated. More: https://t.co/k8K4qHbkKL pic.twitter.com/OxKBB3TId3

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) February 3, 2022

The new numbers were part of the Arizona Department of Health Services’ bi-weekly report on COVID rates by vaccination status, which was updated Wednesday.

The difference in outcomes depending on vaccination status increased significantly from November to December. The data for November showed unvaccinated Arizonans to be 31.1 times more likely to die of the virus and 17.5 times more likely to be hospitalized that fully vaccinated individuals.

“As omicron rapidly emerged as Arizona’s dominant COVID-19 variant in December, vaccines continued offering robust protection against hospitalization and death,” Jessica Rigler, ADHS assistant director overseeing the Division of Public Health Preparedness, said in a blog post Wednesday.

ADHS also released a COVID variant report on Wednesday that showed how fast omicron supplanted delta in the state. Just 2% of samples sequenced in the first full week of December were omicron. It was up to 59% two weeks later and 83% for the last week of the year.

Omicron now is responsible for almost all COVID cases.

Here’s the latest data on the pandemic in Arizona (hospital, case, death, testing and vaccination statistics are based on Thursday morning’s update of the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard; seven-day averages are based on tracking by The New York Times):

COVID-19 cases

• Documented pandemic total – 1,894,335
• Daily new reports – Thursday: 7,794; One day earlier: 8,329; One week earlier: 14,293; Pandemic high: 27,681 (Jan. 22, 2022)
• Seven-day average – Wednesday: 12,434; One day earlier: 13,848; One week earlier: 19,045; Pandemic high: 20,778 (Jan. 24, 2022)

COVID-19 deaths

• Documented pandemic total – 26,430
• Daily new reports – Thursday: 61; One day earlier: 24; One week earlier: 33; Pandemic high: 335 (Jan. 12, 2021)
• Seven-day average – Wednesday: 93; One day earlier: 103; One week earlier: 69; Pandemic high: 175 (Jan. 13, 2021)

COVID-19 hospitalizations

• COVID inpatients – Wednesday: 3,151; One day earlier: 3,255; One week earlier: 3,542; Pandemic high: 5,082 (Jan. 11, 2021)
• COVID ICU patients – Wednesday: 635; One day earlier: 630; One week earlier: 647; Pandemic high: 1,183 (Jan. 11, 2021)

Statewide hospital capacity

• Inpatients beds available – Wednesday: 475 (5% of capacity); One day earlier: 456 (5%); One week earlier: 476 (5%)
• Percentage of inpatient beds with COVID patients – Wednesday: 36%; One day earlier: 37%; One week earlier: 40%
• ICU beds available – Wednesday: 119 (7% of capacity); One day earlier: 125 (8%); One week earlier: 84 (5%)
• Percentage of ICU beds with COVID patients – Wednesday: 39%; One day earlier: 38%; One week earlier: 39%

Laboratory diagnostic testing

• Weekly percent positivity – Samples taken this week: 24%; Last week: 29%; Two weeks ago: 34%; Pandemic high (for a full week): 34% (Jan. 16-22, 2022)
• Find a testing site: ADHS (statewide)

Find a vaccine site

• ADHS (statewide); Maricopa County Public Health (metro Phoenix)

Additional details

The ADHS daily case and death updates can cover multiple days of reporting because of data processing procedures and aren’t meant to represent the actual activity over the previous 24 hours. The hospitalization numbers posted each morning are reported electronically the previous evening by hospitals across the state.

The actual caseload is likely higher than officially reported because ADHS data is based mainly on electronic laboratory reporting and doesn’t include results from home kits unless individuals report them to their health care providers.

Vaccines have proven to reduce the likelihood of a COVID infection causing serious illness or death, even with the highly contagious omicron variant. Booster shots provide additional protection and are approved for individuals who received their second Pfizer (ages 12 and up only) or Moderna doses at least five months ago or the Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.

The minimum age for vaccination is 5 for Pfizer and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

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