The CDC defines a breakthrough case as an infection that occurs in someone who has been fully vaccinated against the virus. The agency has been tracking these cases since December 2020, when the first vaccines were authorized for emergency use in the United States.
The CDC estimates that about 1 in 100,000 people who have been fully vaccinated will experience a breakthrough case of COVID-19. This means that out of the more than 200 million Americans who have received at least one dose of a vaccine, only about 2,000 people are expected to experience a breakthrough case.
The majority of breakthrough cases have occurred among those aged 65 and older, with most cases occurring within two weeks after receiving their second dose of the vaccine. The CDC is continuing to monitor these cases and is working to better understand why some people may be more likely to experience a breakthrough infection despite being vaccinated.
This means that 75 percent of breakthrough hospitalizations and 79 percent of breakthrough deaths were related to COVID-19. This suggests that the majority of breakthrough cases are symptomatic and require hospitalization or result in death.
The exact number of breakthrough cases is difficult to determine, as the CDC does not have a comprehensive system for tracking them. However, based on the data that is available, it appears that there are at least tens of thousands of breakthrough cases in the United States.
The study found that the Delta variant is more likely to cause severe illness in people who have been vaccinated than other variants. It also found that the Delta variant is more likely to cause severe illness in unvaccinated people than other variants.
The findings of this study are concerning, as they suggest that the Delta variant may be more dangerous than previously thought. This means that it is even more important for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as it will help protect them from severe illness caused by the Delta variant. Additionally, public health officials should continue to monitor the spread of the Delta variant and adjust their strategies accordingly.
The CDC estimates that the Delta variant is now responsible for more than 60% of new cases in the US. This is a significant increase from just a few weeks ago, when it was estimated to be responsible for only about 10% of new cases. The CDC also notes that the Delta variant is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death compared to other variants.
The data collected by The New York Times in August is concerning, as it shows that the number of breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 are increasing. This is especially concerning for older people, who are more likely to experience severe illness from a breakthrough infection. It is important for everyone to continue to take precautions such as wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands regularly in order to reduce the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations.
This suggests that the vaccine may not be as effective in protecting older adults from severe illness, and that additional measures should be taken to protect them. This could include more frequent testing, increased social distancing, and other protective measures. Additionally, it is important for healthcare providers to continue to monitor the health of those who have been vaccinated and provide appropriate care if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19.
The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to practice social distancing, wear a face covering when in public, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, and stay home if you are feeling sick.
The increase in severe coronavirus cases is concerning and underscores the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. It is essential that people continue to practice social distancing, wear masks, and wash their hands regularly. Additionally, it is important for people to stay informed about the latest developments in the pandemic and follow local guidelines for staying safe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, despite the recent emergence of a variant that appears to be more resistant to the vaccine. The CDC emphasizes that even though this variant may pose an unexpected threat to vaccinated individuals, it is still important to get the shot as unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who have been vaccinated. Vaccines are still the best way to protect yourself and your community from the virus, and getting vaccinated can help reduce the spread of variants. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 12 get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
- “Also, people who were not fully vaccinated [are] at about five times greater risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated,” a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek. “The findings show vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe COVID-19 even though it provides less protection against the Delta variant than other variants of the virus.”
The exact number of severe cases related to a breakthrough infection is not known, as it depends on the number of people who have received the vaccine and the rate of breakthrough infections. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of April 2021, there have been fewer than 2,000 reported cases of breakthrough infections among those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States. This represents less than 0.01 percent of the more than 178 million people who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the US.
“The metrics don’t tell us the full story of how many people are actually infected with the virus,” Sims said. “For example, we know that there are many people who have mild or no symptoms at all, but still test positive for the virus. We also know that there are many people who may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus and can spread it to others without ever knowing they have it.”
Sims added that while metrics such as hospitalizations and deaths can help us understand the severity of the pandemic, they don’t always give us a complete picture of how widespread the virus is in our communities. He noted that testing is essential to understanding how far-reaching COVID-19 is, and that contact tracing can help identify those who may be unknowingly spreading the virus.
This is likely due to the fact that those who have been vaccinated have a much lower risk of developing severe symptoms from their infection. Vaccines help to reduce the severity of illness and can even prevent some infections altogether. Therefore, those who have been vaccinated are less likely to require hospitalization for their infection than those who have not been vaccinated.
- “I’m taking care of a lot of these patients right now,” Sims said. “Almost all of them were unvaccinated. The vaccinated ones were actually not very sick. In fact, there were a couple who I thought: Why did this person get admitted? And sometimes they were admitted out of an abundance of caution.”
“It’s not clear why this is happening, but it could be due to a variety of factors, including the patient’s immune system being weakened by other illnesses or medications, or the vaccine not providing full protection against the virus,” he said.
- “There’s actually a few patients I saw that probably had sort of a remnant test,” Sims explained. “These are people who had COVID a few months ago, [have] been vaccinated in between, are now coming in [to the hospital] for some other reason, and they test positive for COVID. When I called the lab and looked at the test, [the patients] were just barely positive. It’s probably what we call remnant, where they’re staying positive for a while.”
The CDC recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public spaces when there is substantial or high transmission of the virus. This is because even though vaccines are effective at preventing illness, they may not be 100% effective in preventing transmission of the virus. Wearing a mask can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.
The CDC recommends that vaccinated and immunocompromised people should continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings, and wash their hands often. Vaccinated people should also get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been exposed to someone with the virus. Additionally, it is important for immunocompromised people to talk to their healthcare provider about any additional precautions they should take.
- “Vaccine breakthrough cases are expected,” the CDC says on its website. “COVID-19 vaccines are effective and are a critical tool to bring the pandemic under control. However, no vaccines are 100% effective at preventing illness.”
- It continued, “Some fully vaccinated people will get sick, and some will even be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. However, there is evidence that vaccination may make illness less severe for those who are vaccinated and still get sick. The risk of infection, hospitalization, and death are all much lower in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated people.”
- “Also, people who were not fully vaccinated at about five times greater risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated,” a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek.