Andina

Peru: Unvaccinated people over 60 are 21 times more likely to die from COVID-19

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health (Minsa)

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health (Minsa)

13:00 | Lima, Dec. 30.

The National Health Institute (INS) within the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on Thursday reported that —according to a study of infection and mortality associated with COVID-19— unvaccinated people aged 60 and older are more likely to die or to be hospitalized because of complications.

People in this age group are 10 times more likely to be infected with the novel coronavirus and 21 times more likely to die than those who received the complete vaccine series for COVID-19.

Additionally, unvaccinated people aged between 40 and 60 are 7 times more likely to die and 3 times more likely to be infected with COVID-19.

In this context, Minsa reminds the population of the importance of going to vaccination centers to get the booster dose in order to be better protected against the pandemic and to avoid developing severe forms of the disease in case of infection.

To that end, the vaccination sites will be open on December 31, 2021, and January 1, 2022, across Metropolitan Lima and Callao region for those wishing to receive the first, second, or booster dose.

However, the ministry stressed the need to continue adhering to preventive measures to avoid infection, such as wearing two face masks or one KN95, maintaining physical distancing, avoiding crowds, washing hands with water and soap frequently or rubbing them with alcohol-based sanitizer.

(END) NDP/APD/RRC/RMB/MVB

Published: 12/30/2021