Risk of severe COVID breakthrough is low, but more likely for the elderly or immunocompromised



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Getty A healthcare professional giving a vaccine

Although the risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated is extremely low – only a 1 in 13,000 chance – it is more likely to occur in the elderly or those who are immunocompromised, according to a new report Centers for Disease Control.

The three approved COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States – from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – are highly effective in preventing serious illness or hospitalizations. Of the more than 173 million people nationwide who have been vaccinated as of August 30, there have only been 12,908 serious COVID-19 infections reported that have required hospitalization or resulted in death.

And in those rare cases, the majority of patients were older or immunocompromised. About 70% of rupture cases that required hospitalization were in people 65 years of age or older, and about 87% of rupture cases that resulted in death were also in this age group.

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Among fully vaccinated people who were hospitalized with COVID-19, the median age was 73 and about 71% had at least three pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated people who were hospitalized for COVID-19 had a much lower median age – 59 – and a lower percentage, 56%, had three or more pre-existing conditions.

“The risk of infection, hospitalization and death is much lower in people who are vaccinated than in people who are not vaccinated,” the CDC said.

In August, the Food and Drug Administration allowed immunocompromised people to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna for additional protection against the virus.

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Another recent CDC report showed that unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. The vaccine also makes people five times less likely to be infected and 10 times less likely to require hospitalization.

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This look at “COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in 13 states and offers further evidence of the power of vaccination,” CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Friday during a briefing at the White House on COVID-19.

“As we have shown, study after study, vaccination works,” she added.

As of September 14, just over 62% of the U.S. population – or 209,701,005 people – had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 53.9% were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among the population eligible for the vaccine, those aged 12 and over, 73.9% have received at least one dose and 63.1% are fully vaccinated.

As information on the Coronavirus pandemic changes rapidly, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some information in this story may have changed after posting. For the latest news on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use the online resources of the CDC, WHO and local public health services. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise funds for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline workers to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to make a donation, click on here.

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