MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Monday’s Ransom Note: getting the shot.
Even though the percentages change on a map showing how many people in each state are fully vaxxed, what never changes is all three Mid-South states lag way behind everyone else. Worst of the worst is Mississippi at only 30%. Arkansas is a little better at 34%, and Tennessee a little better at 38%. But still, numbers are so low what doctors feared with the Delta variant is now happening.
New mom Victoria Willis says she learned her lesson. She's actually an ICU nurse but didn't want to get vaccinated. Then, while pregnant, she got COVID-19 and nearly died.
“Once I got it (sighs), it took a turn for the worse and I ended up in the ER and then I ended up in the ICU and they ended up delivering him in the ICU,” Willis said.
Now Arkansas is in its third surge. Hospitals are reopening their COVID units, and this time it's worse.
"There's no doubt in my mind that our patients now are sicker. They're coming in more acutely ill, they're requiring more intensive care to manage their infections. It's a different monster than it was a year ago," explained Dr. Cam Patterson.
We also know 98% of the people who've died from COVID in the past six months were unvaccinated. If you're still on the fence, it's time. Get the shot.
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