Gov. Jim Justice again touted the vaccine and booster shots to battle COVID-19 saying that rising numbers of those hospitalized are those fully vaccinated, but that the majority is still heavily among those unvaccinated.

 

Justice harped on the point today during a rare Tuesday press briefing on the virus. He said 78 percent are currently hospitalized that are unvaccinated, while the ICU cases are nearly 85 percent and ventilator cases are more than 87 percent of those unvaccinated.

 

“If you have not had your booster shot, you need to get it. … The numbers don’t’ lie. The number of hospitalizations that we have now are those predominately not vaccinated,” said Justice. “Remember when it was 97, 98, and 99 … then we wakened, and it was in the 80s. The reason for that was the vaccine you got six or eight months ago was wearing off and your actual percentage of protection was way, way down.”

 

Justice said booster shots for those who received the Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are available. He said they can also be mixed based on recommendations from the FDA and the CDC, and that if you’re eligible, then you should get one.

 

“(The numbers tell) us mathematically as clear as it can possibly tell us that if you’re eligible to get your booster shot (and you're not) then you’re making a real mistake,” said Justice.  

 

COVID Czar Clay Marsh said prior to the booster shots in Israel, 68 percent of those vaccinated made up hospitalizations until the boosters were introduced. Now, he said, the numbers hospitalized show more than 70 percent of those unvaccinated.

 

Retired Major General Jim Hoyer said since the vaccine process, the numbers are skewed heavily on the death front to those unvaccinated. Hoyer said 92 percent of the deaths are among the unvaccinated since the rollout of vaccines.

 

Marsh also said debates are currently undergoing with regulatory agencies to approve the vaccine for children 5 through 11. He said there has been an increase, significantly, in cases in that age group as well as an increase in hospitalizations and even death. Marsh said vaccines for that group could be available as early as Nov. 3. The state has ordered 50,000 doses for the age group, it was announced.

 

Justice reported the latest numbers in several key areas, including schools, and in most of them the numbers are dropping. Currently, there are 42 outbreaks in the state’s schools in 19 counties with 563 confirmed student cases.

 

The governor added there are 42 outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities. He added there is one church outbreak and that is in Nicholas County. In the prisons in the state, there are 122 inmates COVID positive in 14 facilities, while there are 38 staff members positive in 17 facilities.