COVID-19 vaccine reducing hospitalizations one year after major surge

COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against emerging variants

(PHOENIX – July 9, 2021) – Dr. Omar Gonzalez, hospital epidemiologist for Dignity Health in Arizona, says COVID-19 vaccines have largely contributed to the significant drop in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Arizona compared to this time last year when the state was experiencing its first major surge. Now, Dr. Gonzalez is urging all eligible Arizonans to get vaccinated to protect against the highly transmissible Delta variant. 

“In the last year, we’ve learned a lot about COVID-19. Some of the most promising data is that COVID-19 vaccines are keeping people alive and out of the hospital,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “The great majority of the COVID-19 patients I have recently treated in the hospital have been unvaccinated, so it's important that we continue to encourage the public to be vaccinated."

Dr. Gonzalez says the vaccines are especially important right now because they offer protection against the emerging variants, such as the Delta strain.

“Like all other viruses, COVID-19 continues to mutate,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “It is imperative for all of us to use the tools available to us, such as a vaccine, to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy. We’ve made a great deal of progress in the last year, let’s keep moving forward.”

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