Dozens of people in central Florida contract COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated

ORLANDO, Florida – They are called breakthrough cases of COVID-19 – people who have been fully vaccinated but still contract the virus more than 14 days after their second injection.

Cases are popping up all over the country, including central Florida.

[TRENDING: SpaceX aims to fly — and avoid explosion | 4-year-old among 3 dead in I-95 crash | Thief pup gets new home]

Hanna Rewerts, 27, is a physiotherapist and has been tested for COVID-19 at least once a week since the start of the pandemic.

A d

She says she had her first positive test just a few days ago.

“I was shocked, you know,” Rewerts told News 6. “Immediately I was like, ‘This must be a false positive. It cannot be fair. ”

But several tests have confirmed it.

She said she was shocked because she was also fully vaccinated.

As a health worker, Rewerts received his first dose of Pfizer vaccine in December 2020, according to his vaccine card. Her second dose took place three weeks later in January.

More than two months after the second stroke, she contracted the virus.

“So it’s fair, it’s very strange,” Rewerts said.

Rewerts is one of a growing number of people.

Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Health issued a health notice saying that together with the CDC, it was investigating COVID-19 infections in people “properly vaccinated”, also known as vaccine breakthrough cases. , according to the notice.

News 6 has been verified and the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has six documented breakthrough cases, while Sumter County has six and Lake County has 26, according to spokesperson emails. of each county.

A d

Dr Timothy Hendrix works for Advent Health and said it is possible that a fully vaccinated person could still contract the virus.

“It’s possible because no vaccine is perfect,” said Hendrix.

Hendrix pointed out that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95% effective, however.

“The good news is that for this very small number of people who could be infected, less than 5%, the chances of serious illness are almost nil,” said Hendrix.

Groundbreaking cases are not specific to COVID-19 and can occur with any vaccine, experts say.

Rewerts said three members of her family who were also fully vaccinated also contracted it.

“A member of my family went to the hospital,” Rewerts said. “I mean, it’s serious enough to be concerned about the vaccine.”

Rewerts said the Florida Department of Health was performing tests to see if she may have been infected with one of the COVID-19 variants that made it to Florida.

A d

She said that for now, she and her family will continue to socially distance themselves and wear masks.

“I don’t think the public is aware that it doesn’t mean you don’t get the virus, and it doesn’t mean you don’t get sick. There is still a chance, ”said Rewerts.

Hendrix put it that way.

“The only thing you need to know is that every vaccine that has been approved at this point is very effective in preventing the one major endpoint: hospitalization and death,” Hendrix said.

Researchers are still trying to determine whether people who are fully vaccinated and contract the virus can also pass it on to other people, which is why they recommend continuing to wear masks even after being vaccinated.