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What is a COVID-19 vaccine “breakthrough” case?
This is when a fully vaccinated person becomes infected with the coronavirus. A small number of these cases are expected and health officials say they are not a cause for alarm.
COVID-19 vaccines work by teaching the body to recognize the virus. So, if you are exposed to it after the vaccination, your immune system should be ready to kick in and fight it.
In studies, Pfizer and Moderna’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccines were about 95% effective in preventing disease, while Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine was 72% effective, although direct comparisons are difficult. So, although vaccines are very effective in protecting us from the virus, it is still possible to get infected with mild or no symptoms, or even get sick.
If you get sick despite the vaccination, experts say the injections are very effective in reducing the severity of illness – the main reason for getting vaccinated.
Most people with breakthrough infections have mild illness, said Dr William Moss, a vaccine expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In the United States, people who have not been vaccinated account for almost all hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.
It is difficult to determine why a particular case of a breakthrough is occurring. The amount of virus you are exposed to could be a factor, Moss said. Our individual immune system will also affect how we respond to injections. Some people, for example, have health problems or take medicines that might make their immune system less responsive to vaccines.
People could also have been exposed to the virus before the gunfire took full effect. While less likely, they may have received a dose that was improperly stored or administered, Moss said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the variants could be factors in some breakthrough cases, although evidence to date indicates that vaccines used in the United States protect them.
Health officials are also watching for signs of a rise in groundbreaking cases, which could indicate vaccine protection is waning and boosters are needed.
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The AP answers your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them to: [email protected]. Read more here:
What should I know about the delta variant?
Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
Should I be tested for COVID-19 if I am vaccinated?
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