Health Leaders Call On State Leaders To Ramp Up Vaccines, Curb Rising COVID Cases

Health officials gave a check-up on the COVID comeback, especially in the rising number of hospitalizations.

Most expressed their exhaustion and frustration.

"We are having a pandemic of the unvaccinated and overwhelming our hospitals," said Dr. Larry Bookman.

"The vaccine is doing what it needs to do. It's keeping people out of the hospital," said Dr. David Chansolme with Integris.

That newly-coined term "Pandemic of the Unvaccinated" is supported by the data.

In Oklahoma, there are 25 counties with vaccinations rates of under 20%.

Those areas are driving up the number of COVID patients in hospitals now. Now, 361 people have been hospitalized, mostly are in northeast Oklahoma.

Doctors said there is an easy remedy; get vaccinated!

At least 95% of people hospitalized with the virus are unvaccinated.

As vaccine demand tapers-off, public health officials are calling on the state to step up.

"An Oklahoma State Emergency should be enacted immediately" to stop the rising cases, Dr. George Monks tweeted.

But so far, the governor's office remains quiet on the COVID comeback.

"The silence from our leaders is deafening," Chansolme said.

The rolling seven-day average of new cases is now at 690 cases per day.

The trend could lead to economic consequences.

On Monday, the Dow Jones dove more than 700 points and economists blamed that on pandemic worries.