Short Wave COVID-19 News: A Hospital System Overwhelmed, Booster Shots Update
Aug 17, 2021
Allison Aubrey, NPR's health correspondent, highlights the recent 40% surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and its overwhelming impact on hospitals, particularly in Mississippi. She discusses the urgent need for children's vaccination as pediatric hospitalizations rise and explores the push for booster shots among the immunocompromised. With predictions of a peak surge expected in mid-October, Allison emphasizes the critical nature of healthcare access and ongoing vaccination efforts in this fast-evolving situation.
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Rising COVID Cases
- Daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have risen by 40% in two weeks.
- Compared to last year, there are three times more cases now, despite vaccine availability.
Overwhelmed Hospital System
- Mississippi hospitals, like the University of Mississippi Medical Center, are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
- They face bed shortages, full ICUs, and staff absences due to illness.
Unvaccinated Hospitalizations
- Over 90% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Mississippi are unvaccinated.
- Healthcare workers are frustrated and tired, facing difficult decisions about postponing procedures.