A Deadly Mix: Low Vaccination Rates. High Delta Variant Cases. 12 States At Risk

As the Delta variant continues to be a concern due to its high infection rate, it poses a particularly serious risk in U.S. states that have a low vaccinated population.

According to data from Covid Act Now, an independent nonprofit group focused on helping people make informed decisions by providing timely and accurate data about COVID in the U.S., there are 12 states which are at “high risk” for contracting the Delta variant.

The 12 states most at risk for COVID-19, according to Covid Act Now, include Nevada, Utah, Missouri, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina.

The organization said the risk is reduced in states where vaccination levels are increased. It said that 55% of the entire U.S. population has received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Only two states out of the entire U.S. are considered low risk for COVID-19, Covid Act Now said. These states – Massachusetts and Vermont – have more than 80% of residents vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Covid Act Now primarily uses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its analysis. Covid Act Now data looks at factors such as infection rates in each state, the percentage of people vaccinated in each state, intensive care unit capacity, and socio-economic vulnerabilities.

As reported by Business Insider, Professor Eric Topol, director at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said in a Twitter post on Friday that the Delta variant accounts for at least 35% of new cases in these 12 high-risk states.

He also posted on Twitter on Sunday that Arkansas now leads the U.S. in total Delta variant cases with the lowest vaccination rates.

Vaccination rates in the 12 states, according to The New York Times vaccine tracker, are significantly lower than the majority of the nation’s 60 to 72% fully vaccinated rate.

Total vaccination rates in these 12 states include: Nevada (52.7%), Utah (49.6%), Missouri (48.8%), Wyoming (43.9%), Nebraska (60.7%), Kansas (53.6%), Oklahoma (49.3%), Arkansas (43.3%), Mississippi (38.3%), Louisiana (44.9%), Florida (55.8%), and South Carolina (48.1%), data from the Time indicated.

A total of 33.7 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus, with over 605,500 people dying of COVID-related illnesses, according to Johns Hopkins.