Unvaccinated people in Iceland are 13 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, RÚV reports. Half of all hospitalisations in Iceland’s current wave of infection have been unvaccinated people, who represent less than 24% of the population and less than 10% of those eligible for vaccination.
Over 90% of eligible Icelanders, or those 12 years of age and over, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Over 110,000 people have also received a booster shot, or nearly a third of the total population of 370,000. Vaccination rates vary somewhat between age demographics. Nearly 100% of those 70 and older are fully vaccinated in Iceland (most with booster shots as well). The figure drops to just over 90% for those 50-59 years of age, to around 85% for those 40-49, and to roughly 75% for those 16-39. Nearly 70% of children 12-15 years old in Iceland have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Official data from Iceland shows the difference in 14-day incidence rates by age group and vaccination status. These figures show a consistently higher rate of infection among children and adults that are not fully vaccinated as compared to those who are. The current incidence rate for adults who are not fully vaccinated is 780.4, as compared to 465.8 for fully vaccinated adults. The current incidence rate of those who have received a booster shot is just 59.8. Iceland’s Chief Epidemiologist has stated that widespread booster shots could help Iceland reach herd immunity.
Iceland’s new Minister of Health Willum Þór Þórsson received his booster shot yesterday. “I just do what the scientists have told us and encouraged us to do. That helps the fight,” he stated on the occasion. “But we have to respect the point of view of those who, for all sorts of reasons, are afraid of it or will not get vaccinated.”
