More than half of the 12 people who died from COVID-19 recently at Butler Memorial Hospital were not vaccinated against the virus and most had at least one pre-existing risk factor and health issue, a hospital official said Tuesday.

“Most had at least one pre-existing risk factor and medical issue,” said Dr. David Rottinghaus, Butler Health System's chief medical officer and emergency medical physician.

“Most of those who passed away were not vaccinated. More than half were not vaccinated.”

The health system reported Monday that three people died Friday, four died Saturday, four died Sunday and one died Monday.

Rottinghaus said he was not able to provide the exact number of victims who were vaccinated or unvaccinated, but the fact that some were not vaccinated follows a regional and national pattern.

Vaccinations remain the best defense against contracting and spreading COVID, he said.“Vaccination is truly our best way of keeping people safe, preventing them from getting seriously ill and preventing the spread of COVID-19 to the community,” Rottinghaus said.Most people admitted to the hospital with COVID have significant risk factors, but healthy people also can catch the virus, he said.The delta strain of the virus is the dominant strain in the region, Rottinghaus said. The omicron strain hasn't been detected, but he said he believes it eventually will show up in the area.There has been a steady demand for adult booster shots and child vaccinations at the vaccine clinic, Rottinghaus said. A smaller number of unvaccinated people are getting their first doses of vaccine, he said.At the hospital, some elective surgeries and procedures in which patients would have to be admitted have been delayed due to a shortage of nurses, therapists and technicians, Rottinghaus said.“Staffing is the biggest limitation for providing the care we want to provide,” he said. “We're keeping an eye out for beds we can staff. The biggest strain on our resources is the number of people we have to render care.“We have absolutely wonderful nurses and technicians and therapists that do bedside care, but that's where we're seeing the most losses.”The number of admitted patients and the number of patients being discharged is monitored every day, he said.There are enough ventilators for patients who need one, and enough staff to operate the units, Rottinghaus said.<b>This story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. Please consider supporting our local, independent newsroom by subscribing at butlereagle.com. </b>