Groundbreaking COVID cases in Massachusetts – NBC Boston



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Nearly 80 people have died from COVID-19 in Massachusetts, even though they were fully vaccinated, as the most contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

These groundbreaking cases where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for the coronavirus have so far been rare, but are possible.

Here’s what you need to know about the revolutionary cases in Massachusetts:

How many groundbreaking COVID cases are there in Massachusetts?

Public health officials have followed 4,450 “groundbreaking” cases of COVID-19 among Massachusetts residents fully vaccinated against the disease, which is about a tenth of 1% of the estimated 4.2 million people immunized.

About 92% of infections among vaccinated residents did not require hospitalization, while 303 people, or 6.8%, were hospitalized, according to data from the state Department of Public Health through 10 July.

The Boston Herald reported the groundbreaking data Tuesday based on a request for public documents.

Seventy-nine vaccinated Massachusetts residents have died from COVID-19, either without being hospitalized or as a result of a hospital stay, DPH said. That death toll reflects 1.78% of the 4,450 confirmed cases and 0.0019% of the 4,195,844 people fully vaccinated as of July 10.

“All available data continues to support that the 3 vaccines used in the United States are highly protective against serious illness and death from all known variants of COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated, ”the DPH said in a statement to the Boston Globe.

As more Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the number of breakthrough infections is also expected to rise. Here’s what you need to know about this medical phenomenon.

Does this mean that the vaccines are not working?

Completely the opposite. Health experts have said occasional infections after vaccinations are expected, but vaccinations dramatically reduce the chances of contracting COVID-19 leading to serious complications or death.

“Yes, vaccines are not perfect. We expect some people to still be infected. But both in the studies and in the actual evidence, it’s terrifically good, ”Dr Eric Rubin, infectious disease physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told The Globe.

Since the start of the pandemic, DPH has confirmed 665,088 COVID-19 infections and 17,647 deaths – most of which occurred before most residents had access to vaccines – for a death rate of nearly 2.7 %.

The pace of new vaccinations has slowed considerably in recent weeks before and after the end of the state of emergency on June 15. During the seven-day period ending May 30, the state administered an average of 41,918 doses of vaccine per day, but that rate fell to 10,880 for the seven-day period ending July 2.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has focused more on more targeted vaccination initiatives, supporting door-to-door campaigns, local outreach and incentive programs such as a state lottery “VaxMillions »Open only to those who are fully dosed.

Outstanding cases in Cape Town?

Authorities in Provincetown have sounded the alarm after a handful of new cases of COVID-19 “overwhelmingly” affecting fully vaccinated individuals were reported in the Cape Cod tourist community in recent days.

City Manager Alex Morse said on Tuesday that “the vast majority of those affected have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The moderate intensity of symptoms indicates the vaccines are working as expected.”

He noted that the city, a popular tourist destination on the tip of Cape Cod, has one of the highest vaccination rates in Massachusetts.

COVID testing is stepped up in Provincetown, with free walk-in mobile testing available in the parking lot of the Veterans Memorial Community Center through Monday.

According to the state, there have been 34 new cases of the coronavirus in Barnstable County in the past 14 days. Health officials said they were monitoring the situation closely.

There has been a cluster of coronavirus cases among those vaccinated in Provincetown.

What does the CDC say about breakthrough cases?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said groundbreaking COVID cases “are expected.” They said no vaccine was 100% effective in preventing disease, but it was “an essential tool in bringing the pandemic under control.”

“More than 157 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated as of July 6, 2021. As with other vaccines, vaccine breakthrough cases will occur, even if the vaccines work as intended,” the agency said on its website.

The CDC said there is “some evidence” that vaccination may make the disease less serious for those who are vaccinated and still contract the virus.

Current data suggests Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines provide protection against most of the variants currently circulating in the United States, the CDC said. But the variants will cause cases of rupture.

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