Unvaccinated people aged 50 and over are almost four times as likely to die from covid, new findings have revealed.
The Department of Health published the Vaccination Status of Deaths and Hospitalisations Report on Wednesday afternoon - the report presents results for Northern Ireland on the vaccination status of patients who have been hospitalised from coronavirus.
It also presents results of those who have died from the virus between August 30 and September 26, 2021.
The report found that three-quarters of adult inpatients aged under 50 are unvaccinated and more than a fifth (22%) of inpatients aged 50 and over are unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated individuals aged 50 and over are five times as likely to be admitted to hospital as fully vaccinated individuals, the Department reports.
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And for adults under 50, whilst the numbers admitted to hospital are lower, an unvaccinated individual is almost 18 times as likely to need hospitalisation.
Professor Young said the statistics demonstrate the importance of getting as many people as possible vaccinated.
Prof Young added: “These statistics very much underline the effectiveness of vaccination. Getting your jab dramatically alters the odds in your favour, in terms of being protected against hospitalisation and death.
“I would again advise and encourage people who have not yet been vaccinated to do so without delay.”
Professor Young also cautioned against misinterpretation of the newly-published data, in relation to hospitalisation and deaths of vaccinated patients over 50.
He said: “We know that vaccination does not provide 100% protection of 100% of people.
"We also know that the risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid is much higher in older age groups. There will sadly continue to be some older people who will lose their lives to the virus, despite being double vaccinated.
"We can all help to reduce the risk of this happening by doing everything we can to stop Covid spreading.
“The vast majority of people over 50 in Northern Ireland are vaccinated. This needs to be borne in mind when assessing or comparing hospitalisation figures.
"The numbers of unvaccinated people dying or needing hospital care is significantly out of proportion to the numbers of unvaccinated people in the overall population.
“The benefits of vaccination are clear and unequivocal.”
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