Once again saying that Ohio is in a very serious situation when it comes to COVID-19, Ohio's top medical official is again urging people who have not been vaccinated to do so, and those who have been vaccinated to make sure they get a booster shot.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said during a Thursday news conference that data shows that booster shots can restore antibody levels that tend to decline over time.

Noting that there are currently 4,735 COVID patients in Ohio hospitals, and 1,777 patients in hospital intensive care units have COVID, Dr. Vanderhoff said that 95% of the hospitalized COVID patients have not been vaccinated.

Vanderhoff said that the number of COVID-related hospitalizations is nearly where they were a year ago.

"Getting vaccinated now can keep you out of the hospital or out of the obituary pages," said Vanderhoff.

In the 13 county region that includes the Mahoning Valley, one it two ICU patients are there for COVID, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.

Also taking part in Thursday's news conference was Steven Gordon, MD, Chair, Cleveland Clinic Department of Infectious Disease, who noted that vaccinations have saved 1.1 million lives and prevented ten million hospitalizations.