The pandemic isn’t over yet, and those who aren’t vaccinated remain at risk for the novel coronavirus, according to Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert who recently spoke on “CBS This Morning.”
Concerns over delta variant
Experts remain heavily concerned about the delta variant of the coronavirus, which has continued to spread throughout the United States, as I wrote for the Deseret News.
Where are you at risk?
Osterholm, the disease expert, told “CBS This Morning” that states with low vaccination rates remain at risk.
- “In the areas where they have large pockets of unvaccinated people, we can surely expect to see surges in cases, in some situations challenging the health care capacity of that local area,” he said.
- “The delta variant is clearly going to be another wave. If you decide not to get vaccinated, this virus will still find you,” Osterholm said.
CNN reports that states with vaccination rates less than 35% remain most at risk for the delta variant. Those states include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
Dr. Russell Vinik, chief medical operations officer of the Salt Lake City-based U. Health, confirmed to the Deseret News that unvaccinated people are most at risk for the current spread of COVID-19.
“That same population who is less likely to get vaccinated has been getting more COVID-19,” Vinik said, according to the Deseret News.