Elkhart County hospital officials are urging community members to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the county’s hospitals once again near capacity.
In a video message to the community, Elkhart General Hospital's Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Michelle Bache, said the hospital’s inpatient census has increased by 68 percent in just the past week.
“We are approaching inpatient numbers that haven’t been seen since the very beginning of the year,” she said.
Bache said the patients being admitted are much younger this time around, with most in their thirties or forties.
With vaccines now widely available – and extremely effective at preventing serious infections – Bache says the increase in hospitalizations doesn't have to continue.
“I know everyone wants to get to the other side of this pandemic, and we have the tools to make that happen," Bache said. "Protect yourself, you family and your community from this virus. Get vaccinated.”
Currently, only about 19 percent of Elkhart County’s eligible residents have been fully vaccinated. Bache said that’s about 10 percent lower than in neighboring St. Joseph County.
Contact Gemma atgdicarlo@wvpe.orgor follow her on Twitter at@gemma_dicarlo.
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