Elsie Lange
The tragedy of the Omicron wave in Hume has been revealed, with 35 deaths across the municipality since December last year.
Data provided to Star Weekly by the Department of Health showed Hume ranked high among municipality death tolls in Victoria – seventh in the state – with 943 total deaths across Victoria between December 8, 2021 and February 21, 2022.
Thirty-seven per cent of Victorians who died were not vaccinated with at least two doses, and 33 per cent were not vaccinated at all – only eight per cent of people who died had been vaccinated with their third dose.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic,” a Department of Health spokesperson said.
“The data is clear that getting your third dose will significantly reduce your chances of going to hospital, going to ICU or dying from COVID-19.
“If you’re yet to get your third dose, it’s easier than ever – just walk in or book at a state-run centre, head to a participating GP or pharmacy, or drop by a pop-up vaccination clinic in your local area.”
Hume’s third-dose vaccination rate has risen 7.2 percentage points in the last two weeks after pop-up clinics became available in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Kalkallo.
The high death toll in Hume emphasises the impact COVID-19 has taken on lower-socioeconomic areas across the state, based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics socio-economic index.
“We all personally know someone that is at a greater risk of becoming severely sick or dying from COVID-19 if they catch it – whether that be an older loved one or someone with a medical condition,” Hume pandemic response manager Brooke Watson said.
“The research is clear, getting the third dose means you’re significantly less likely to pass the virus on to a more vulnerable member of our community or to become severely ill yourself.
“To date, more than 87,000 third doses have been given across Hume city, with thousands more being administered every week.
“Our community responded in droves in 2021 to become one of the highest double dosed communities in Victoria and I’ve no doubt Hume city can do it again as we head into winter.”
Macedon Ranges death toll was significantly lower at 12 deaths since December.
