Consider This is a new column from Opinion Editor Ainsley Kling. Each column, Ainsley poses debatable questions and topics, then provides information and fresh perspectives to make informed decisions about them.

Consider This: The COVID mortality rate is steadily rising among the unvaccinated, yet people still deny that the vaccine is effective.

The vaccine rollout for the COVID-19 vaccine has been occurring the past year, with the first vaccine issued in the United States on Dec. 14, 2020. According to CDC data over the past year, the United States has fully vaccinated more than 200 million people, with 62.5% of the total population vaccinated. The number of people with booster shots is significantly lower, with 38.1% of the population vaccinated with 54% eligible for it. 

The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine is undeniable. The CDC COVID Data Tracker, with numbers from May to Nov. of 2021, shows that monthly rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations were 13 times higher in unvaccinated adults than in fully vaccinated adults. Additionally, unvaccinated adolescents had a 10 times higher chance of being hospitalized than fully vaccinated adolescents. See the table on the right for more details.

So, numbers and statistics are great, but what exactly do these numbers mean? This means your unvaccinated friend is on average 13 times more likely to contract COVID and be hospitalized than your friend who is vaccinated. This is not even discussing the death rates between the unvaccinated and vaccinated. According to CDC data, in Oct. of 2021, an unvaccinated person had a 14 times higher chance of dying from COVID-19 if they contracted it.

At this time the CDC has not published any data from the recent surge in Omicron. However, Pfizer and BioNTech are currently conducting clinical trials regarding the vaccine’s effectiveness against the variant.

Despite this evidence, being wary of a new vaccine is understandable but does not excuse refusing the vaccine. Also, people who medically cannot get the vaccine are a whole other issue, and their refusal is understandable. Many Americans are concerned about the speed at which the vaccine developed. Additionally, many are concerned about the possible long term side effects. However, despite the vaccine’s possible side effects, we do not know the side effects of the actual virus.

Additionally, if you are truly concerned, the CDC has a lot of resources. This includes a free and voluntary health monitoring program called v-safe, which you can use after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine has proven to be safe and effective for most people with minimal side effects. While the vaccine is new, it is much safer to get a vaccine than contracting the virus and having a negative experience with it. Covid-19 Vaccine programs have been occurring for the past year. At this point, the science and evidence shows that it is effective. Antone, you refused to admit that work are diluting the hard work that the scientist did to create the vaccine.