Vaccination rates have shown a small increase in Iowa, but positive tests are also on the rise. | Pixabay/torstensimon
Vaccination rates have shown a small increase in Iowa, but positive tests are also on the rise. | Pixabay/torstensimon
COVID-19 positive rates and hospitalizations are on the rise in the state of Iowa with statistics showing concerning numbers as the winter months near. Reports do show, however, that while some areas are lagging the state of Iowa’s vaccination has been slowly but surely rising.
Radio Iowa reported that Iowa’s overall vaccination rate has increased. However, counties in the southeast and northwest are showing lower vaccination rates.
The vaccination rate is the lowest among middle-aged white men in the 20- to 30-year range, Ken Sharp of the Iowa Department of Public Health said.
“We still have, as everybody recognizes, a ways to go, but we are making progress,” Sharp said.
KCCI reported Nov. 8 that the Department of Public Health statistics showed that the 14-day positivity rate had risen from 8.4% to 8.7% since Nov. 5. The numbers continued to climb, with KCCI reporting on Nov. 15 that the Department of Public Health showed another increase over seven days, with rates climbing from 9.2% to 9.6%. In the seven days before Nov. 15, there were 8,427 positive COVID-19 tests, which was up from the last report showing 8,047 positive tests.
Some residents took to social media with their concern.
“Iowa’s Covid-19 positivity rate, hospitalizations on the rise,” tweeted @JoanSwa20654309, who is described as a retired critical care registered nurse on the Twitter page. The report by KCCI was also included in the post. “Iowa vaccination numbers have changed this fall season. Many counties at 60% vaccinated. Gov. Reynolds needs to step up in getting Iowans vaccinated/the buy in.”
While hospitalization statistics were trending down for several weeks running, the latest report showed a shift in the wrong direction. As of Nov. 15, there were 526 hospitalized COVID-19 patients which was up from 487 patients on Nov. 12 and 464 patients the previous week, KCCI reported.
The vaccination numbers show that of the people who are hospitalized, 73.4% have not yet received a shot. Of those in intensive care, 80.2% have not been vaccinated.
There have been 3,953,560 vaccines administered, according to KCCI. This includes 68.5% who are 18 and older who are fully vaccinated, and 71.3% of people 12 and older with one or more vaccine doses.
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