I’m a doctor and EVERY patient in my intensive care unit is unvaccinated
CORONAVIRUS vaccines have been rolled out across the UK with millions of Brits jabbed with first, second and booster shots.
But some people have still not had any vaccinations and one doctor has warned that it's these patients who are ending up in intensive care.
Omicron is currently the dominant strain in the UK but most people who catch the bug present with cold-like symptoms.
A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
So far more than 51 million people in the UK have had a first dose of the vaccine and more than 47 million have had a second.
The NHS worked tirelessly over the Christmas period to administer booster vaccines and more than 35 million of these have now also been given out.
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Intensive care doctor Dr David Hepburn said that many patients who have died might have lived decades longer had they not been struck down by Covid.
Dr Hepburn works at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, South Wales, which opened in November 2020 as a specialist critical care unit.
Dr Hepburn said: "All the Covid patients on ITU are unvaccinated at present and we've had several deaths this week.
"None of them had significant comorbidities and were people you would usually expect to live another 30-plus years.
"We now have less Covid cases on the unit than for several months – this might be because of good vaccination levels locally or we haven't hit the peak of Omicron as yet.
"So all in all we are in good shape as ITUs go.
"However the same can't be said for the rest of the hospital – large numbers of Covid patients being admitted and staff shortages are significantly affecting our ability to do routine operations, outpatients, and diagnostics which will lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment as well as worsen outcomes.
"Waiting lists are longer than ever and the knock-on effect will be significant."
JABS AWAY
He explained that getting vaccinated helps reduce the pressure on the NHS when it comes to non-Covid work.
Dr Hepburn said that even if your risk is low of getting seriously unwell, vaccination makes a huge difference to those around you who are awaiting treatment for other conditions.
He added: "We all need to do what we can to help our neighbours and friends – this is reason enough in my opinion.
"Let's hope things don't get any worse and the Omicron wave passes with minimal disruption – but we can all still do our part. Who knows what the future holds. I am cautiously optimistic but things can change in a heartbeat."
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week said that life could return to normal soon as Omicron is peaking - but said that the only way to do this would be if everyone got their booster vaccines.
Yesterday the PM also said he would "act according to the science" around cutting the self-isolation period for Covid-19 cases.
