Mississippi has one of the highest coronavirus mortality rates in the nation, as well as a low COVID-19 vaccination rate. While the state has seen a decline in coronavirus transmission since the current peak in August, daily new cases are around three times higher than in June. Dr. Geri Weiland is President of the Mississippi State Medical Association.
“August was the most deadly month of the entire pandemic for Mississippi, and so yes, it’s a sad commentary," says Dr. Weiland. "I wish it could have been different. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, but I wish it could have been different.”
Recently, most coronavirus hospitalizations have been among young adults. While Mississippians 65 years and older were the most heavily impacted by the pandemic in January, 77% of that demographic are now fully vaccinated. Dr. Weiland says since the beginning of the surge in August, more than 85 percent of coronavirus patients in Mississippi hospitals have been unvaccinated.
“And we’re talking about young folks here. 20’s, 30’s, 40’s. I mean these are not high risk people. These are people who just didn’t have any immunity and for whatever reason the virus was deadly to them, or made them sick enough to be in the hospital," says Dr. Weiland.
Mississippians who are 12 years and older can get a coronavirus vaccine, and the FDA will meet later this week to consider reducing age requirements to just five years.
