ATHENS – Anti-vaxxers at the greatest risk of contracting COVID-19 make up 95 percent of patients in Greek public hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with the virus being hospitalized, while only 1 percent are those who are partially or fully vaccinated in rarer cases.

Health authorities released the data as the New Democracy government is trying to persuade skeptics that the vaccines are safe and effective – they have greatly reduced cases, hospitalizations and deaths – but some anti-vaxxers also believe they are a conspiracy to alter their DNA or control their minds.

The figures demonstrate that vaccinated people are much less likely to become infected, infect others, display symptoms and become seriously ill, said Kathimerini, as health officials said the unprotected are risking their lives.

“If a carrier of the highly contagious Delta variant meets with a group of 20 people, half of whom are unvaccinated, they have the potential to infect all 10 of the unvaccinated, but only one of the vaccinated,” the paper said without citing the source.

It';s mostly the young who are refusing to be vaccinated who are driving up critical cases although the government has offered them 150 euros ($176.66) in digital wallet benefits for entertainment and other expenditures.