Data analysed by the Stray Ferret shows the impact of the covid vaccine in reducing the number of deaths related to the virus at Harrogate District Hospital.
Since December 2020, when the National Health Service embarked on the biggest vaccination rollout in the UK, more than 120,000 people in the Harrogate district have had at least two jabs.
The data shows the number of patients dying at Harrogate District Hospital has declined significantly as the vaccine rollout has taken place.
As shown in the graph below, the number of daily deaths at the hospital from covid peaked in February 2021 at seven. No more than three deaths have been recorded on any one day in recent months despite the highest infections rates since covid began.
The graph also reveals there was a noticeably higher number of deaths overall in the first two waves than in recent months.
The number of covid vaccinations since December 2020 in the Harrogate district. Data: UK Government. Graph: the Stray Ferret.
The peak of daily deaths came at a time when the vaccine rollout was picking up pace and a national lockdown had been imposed due to soaring covid cases.
Around that time, the district hospital was dealing with a peak of 68 covid inpatients, compared to 22 today.
The following months saw no deaths reported for several weeks in line with the vaccine rollout and restrictions imposed.
Once restrictions were lifted in July, the hospital started to report new covid fatalities — but higher vaccination levels led to a much lower death rate.
The daily covid cases in the Harrogate district since the start of the pandemic. Data: UK Government. Graph: the Stray Ferret.
Since March 2020, the hospital has recorded a total of 197 deaths.
The waning of the effect of covid jabs has seen the government start to rollout booster vaccines for those over-40.
High covid cases and booster vaccines
The number of covid cases has increased dramatically in recent months.
Daily infections peaked in October and have flatlined into November.
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Even so, the number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has still not reached anywhere near the high set in February.
The data on vaccinations and deaths comes as booster vaccines have started to be offered to people across the district.
Walk-in centres have been operating in Leeds and York for those who are eligible for a jab.
However, data on the number of people who have taken up booster vaccines in the Harrogate district is so far unavailable.
As of Monday, 13.1 million people across the UK have had booster vaccinations.
