We know that being vaccinated against COVID-19 decreases risk of hospitalization and death, even with our most recent variant, Omicron.  But data is increasingly showing this effect on the broader population level. The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram analysis compared highly vaccinated coastal counties Cumberland, Lincoln and Sagadahoc with three counties that are not, Somerset, Piscataquis and Franklin counties. The widest difference showed 4x lower COVID-19 deaths per 10,000 population in Sagadahoc County, compared with Franklin County.

“There’s no doubt in the scientific community that these vaccines have blunted the pandemic in really meaningful ways,” said Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a South Portland pediatrician and infectious disease expert. “The science and the data doesn’t lie.”

Read the whole article here or a shorter version from US News Here.