LETTER: Unvaccinated Covid patients fill ICUs, limit care for others

To Ozaukee Press:

In response to Sharon Fischer’s letter to the editor in last week’s Ozaukee Press, “It’s no one’s business if you got a Covid vaccination shot or not,” it’s true you may catch Covid-19 if vaccinated. However, vaccinated people typically have minor symptoms and are not hospitalized.

The vast majority of those filling ICUs due to Covid are unvaccinated. This can result in hospitals being unable admit people who need immediate intensive care medical help for other causes.

There was a veteran who had an emergency kidney issue who could not get immediate care because the ICU in his local hospital was filled with Covid patients and there was no room for him. By the time a hospital that could admit him was found, he had passed away. If you find this scenario acceptable, then I’m sorry for you.

Additionally, no one speaks to the expense of being in the ICU. Depending how long a patient is there, the costs could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even if the unvaccinated patient has insurance, they or someone else will likely have to pay tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills.  

There is no benefit to anyone for not getting a vaccination. The gamble is up to individuals, but is hard to understand the ignorance of that decision.

Jan Sabella
Port Washington