More Than 500 Breakthrough Infections Reported in Mass. in Under 3 Weeks

[OhioChick]

Source: NBC Boston

Health experts are urging vaccinated people to get tested for coronavirus, even for the most mild symptoms, as breakthrough infections continue to be reported

By Mary Markos • Published June 16, 2021 • Updated on June 16, 2021 at 9:14 am

More than 500 fully vaccinated people tested positive for coronavirus in Massachusetts in under three weeks, according to recent state data.

As of June 5, there were 3,641 cases of COVID-19 among 3,500,011 fully vaccinated people in Massachusetts, according to the Department of Public Health. That's 558 more cases than the reported 3,083 fully vaccinated people who had tested positive as of May 17, first reported by MassLive.

The so-called breakthrough cases — cases where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for coronavirus — have so far been rare, but are possible. The numbers account for approximately one in 1,000 vaccinated people in Massachusetts.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 10,262 breakthrough infections were reported throughout the country as of April 30, at which time 101 million people had been vaccinated.

Read more: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/more-than-500-breakthrough-infections-reported-in-mass-in-under-3-weeks/2406851/

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. Dammit

I'm so sick of this fucking virus.

I hope it does not come down to another quarantine situation because of the covid variants.

[Maraya1969]

114. It doesn't bother me. From everything I have read getting Covid after vaccnation

is very mild and almost never ends up in hospitalization or death. So I'd equate that with the common cold a I'm not going to lose sleep worrying about the common cold.

The ones that need to be worried are the unvaccinated and they are too stupid to worry. And I'm done worrying about infecting them now. And I don't think a vaccinated person is going to have a high viral load so the infection you pass on seems to me would be rather low also.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. Curious how many have gone to hospital, let alone died?

I get the need for testing to help avoid transmitting it to others, but is this otherwise concerning?

None of the vaccines claimed 100% effectiveness for never again testing positive, so ... we expect there to be SOME.

1 in 1000 means 99.9% of vaccinated people haven't tested positive. Granted, many vaccinated people won't get tested cause they don't think they can have Covid ... so this is clearly a rough estimate.

[OhioChick]

3. From the Article....

"The CDC stopped counting breakthrough infections last month. Instead, federal health officials are only tracking vaccinated patients who end up in the hospital or those who die from COVID-19."

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. So that would apply to the CDC number

Which is roughly 10,000 of 100,000,000, or 1 in 10,000, or 99.99% effective in keeping you from the hospital/death.

Pretty solid numbers if you ask me.

[NH Ethylene]

89. That CDC number may be from when they stopped counting.

".. . a total of 10,262 breakthrough infections were reported throughout the country as of April 30"

It looks like Mass. is continuing to keep track of it.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

101. Not sure if that changes the calculation to all that significant of a degree?

I wonder how many were vaccinated at that point. Even if it's only 70,000,000 as of then it's still really high odds against.

[NH Ethylene]

112. Very true.

I'm still going to wear my mask at indoor public places though.

[appalachiablue]

118. Yes and thanks.

[Ms. Toad]

96. About the same percentage of the unvaccinateed population

as go to the hospital and die.

So there's a 95% reduction in contracting COVID. Roughly 2% of COVID cases end in death, and roughly 9% require hospitalization.

So if 100,000 unvaccinated people would contract COVID under a set of exposure conditions - there would be about 5,000 breakthrough cases under the same exposure condtions.

Of those 5000 breakthrough cases, roughly 100 (2%) would die, and 450 (9%) would require hospitalization.

The early studies only tested for COVID when symptoms existed, so it wasn't known if the vaccine prevented infection or merely reduced symptoms. Since then there have been studies which tested everyone regularly for COVID 19, and determined that what the vaccine does is prevent the disease. Death rates among breakthrough cases in the vaccinated have been roughly 2% (same as among unvaccinated). I haven't seen studies specifically tracking hosptaliztion - but since the prevention rate is identical to the earlier reduction in severe symptoms or death, and the death rate among breakthrough casese is essentially identical to the death rate in unvaccinated cases, I can't imagine that - when the data is available - it will show anythng different as to hospitaliztion rates.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

102. Thank you! nt

[MineralMan]

4. 0.1%?

Now I'm in a panic..

[OhioChick]

5. My kids are seeing breakthrough cases, daily.

It is concerning to say the least.

[mucifer]

20. How sick are the breakthrough cases?

[Susan Calvin]

37. That's what I want to know. nt

[IronLionZion]

47. CDC is collecting data on that and claims it's less severe

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html

New variants are spreading faster than the original, which was pretty fast last year.

[mucifer]

51. My question was to Ohio Chick who says her kids are seeing a lot of

breakthrough cases. I know that's not a scientific question. But, I'm curious.

[Kablooie]

69. I heard that no vaccinated people get sick enough to be hospitalized.

So far. So that's 100%

I wonder what the difference is for the different vaccines.

[mucifer]

76. Not true. In IL there have been 117 fully vaccinated covid deaths since Jan 1 2021 Link

it is 1.77% of all Illinois covid deaths

https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccinedata?county=Illinois

this is data from the Illinois dept of public health
scroll down to "Statewide covid 19 vaccine breakthrough "

Consider that the people who die might have a lot of risk factors.

[NH Ethylene]

92. Surprising nonetheless.

We are definitely given the impression that breakthrough illness is mild.

Good for Ohio that they are including info that is less than exhileratingly positive about the vaccines. Others seem to be taking the 'ignorance is bliss' approach in disseminating information.

[mucifer]

113. If you think about the fact that people have other illnesses and old age that are a

factor. No one lives forever. IMO the more people vaccinated the higher percent of breakthrough deaths over time.

[NH Ethylene]

115. Yes, that makes sense. And the 90-something efficacy is very high for a vaccine.

So in that sense we are very fortunate that there are not more cases.

[joetheman]

75. Which vaccine is accounting for the most breakthrough cases. It would be helpful to know which

is vaccine is least effective.

[appalachiablue]

119. This I'd like to know as well, which vaccines

with the most breakthroughs.

[LymphocyteLover]

52. your kids? are they doctors?

[NQAS]

24. Yes, that sucks

But it’s 1 in 1,000.

Sure, if I’m the one, then it’s a horrifying development. But if I’m a statistician, I’m hardly concerned.

[MineralMan]

25. We are all statisticians now.

[sheshe2]

28. I am sorry.

I respect your posts yet don't find your sarcasm amusing here. This isn't over yet.

OP link:

"Testing to identify current infection remains critical to control of COVID-19," a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health said in a statement. "People with current infection can spread the virus to others and isolation of cases and identification of close contacts (individuals who may have been exposed) is a foundation of public health response."

In fact, the more contagious Delta COVID-19 variant, first identified in India, has been in Massachusetts for weeks now and is steadily rising. Experts say the Delta variant is more contagious and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization than the original "wild type" COVID-19 strain.

[JoeOtterbein]

48. +1 ...

...thanks for posting!

[sheshe2]

110. You are welcome.

[CountAllVotes]

111. +1,000 !!

N/T

[appalachiablue]

120. Vy impt. thanks for sharing this info.

[JustAnotherGen]

124. Thank you

And - we are all back in office July 6

[sheshe2]

125. Stay safe, JAG.

[DVDGuy]

34. Actual rate much higher

Yes, but this is with fairly low testing, especially by those that are already fully vaccinated (most think they can't get COVID so aren't testing themselves for it). The actual rate would be much, much higher.

All data points to the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines being less than 80% effective against the Delta variant, so the real breakthrough rate could be as high as 1 in 5. What we don't know is how many of these breakthrough cases end up in the hospital, or dying. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, we know that 29% of those that have died due to the Delta variant in the UK were already fully vaccinated, and that's super concerning.

What this at least means is that people who are not fully vaccinated right now are still at a high risk of getting the Delta variant, even if they only associate with fully vaccinated people. Herd immunity is also now much harder to achieve, perhaps requiring 80-85% to be fully vaccinated, as opposed to 60-70% previously.

It also shows the importance of getting the rest of the world vaccinated, as another even more deadly and transmissible new variant could arrive in countries that can't afford to pay for vaccines and its rollout.

[HUAJIAO]

40. THIS is a good post...

Solid information.

[Yavin4]

41. "how many of these breakthrough cases end up in the hospital, or dying."

Not showing up in the hospitalizations and death stats so far. New cases are at a 7-day average of 99 for the entire state.

[womanofthehills]

82. If you look at the UK news - not good

A Public Health England (PHE) report says that of the 42 people known to have died so far with
the Indian variant in the UK, 12 were fully vaccinated.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15260747/third-patients-died-indian-delta-variant-both-jabs/

[NH Ethylene]

93. That is pretty worrisome.

Although they did rely heavily on the Astrazenica vaccine, which is not as reliable as the mRNA vaccines.

[Tom Rinaldo]

95. The UK also chose to temporarily pursue a single shot only strategy when two shots were called for

They chose to stretch out their supplies of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by delaying second shots so that more people could receive their first shot as quickly as possible. Studies indicate that a single shot of those vaccines may be less than half as effective preventing infections than does receiving both of the two recommended shots.

[sheshe2]

109. Only briefly in the room to hear a doctor on CNN.

The variant is not being tracked and no clue if the vaccines will deter it. They said it is a pandemic within a pandemic.

They are suggesting everyone gets tested, even with mild symptoms.

I remain masked when I go out and will continue to do so.

[JoeOtterbein]

50. Good points.

I'm vaxed yet I will continue to wear a mask inside with strangers. I'd rather be called an elitist, or something, than die a horribly painful death.

[C Moon]

61. California opened up today. Every place I've gone, people are wearing masks (except outdoors).

Inside a gas station store; a not-that-busy chain store; a restaurant to get to go food.
I wasn't planning on wearing it, but I gladly wore my mask when I saw everyone else wearing one.

[Sympthsical]

74. I was at a Bay Area Costco today. About 50% were unmasked.

I was keeping mental track out of idle curiosity.

Safeway seemed like a much higher percentage. Maybe 80% masked. Maybe because it's a more enclosed space?

With Delta lurking about, I'll keep my mask going. Don't need cheap airlines breathing on me. I don't know where they've been. (Thing is, they don't seem to know either).

The virus is worrisome, too.

[C Moon]

78. :D

[Tree Lady]

81. Around here Medford OR almost no one wears

A mask in stores including Costco. I still wear a mask inside but my husband doesn't so thinking if he catches something then I will.

[notpolltested]

56. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths here are still dropping as vaccine keep climbing nt

[Pobeka]

83. "All data points to the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines being less than 80% effective against the Delta .."

Last edited Thu Jun 17, 2021, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Do you have a link to this data, or source?

TIA

on edit: I believe this is the lancet article:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01358-1/fulltext

After reading through the article and associated appendix, this preliminary data is showing the Pfizer vaccine is really, really good at preventing symptomaic infection from the Delta virus. But there was no data for the Moderna vaccine.

It is also really clear that you have to get both doses of Pfizer.

It is also really clear that with no vaccine, your odds of going to the hospital and/or dying from a Delta variant are significantly higher than the Beta (aka UK) variant.

[womanofthehills]

85. Look up the latest article in the Lancet

On Pfizer jab effectiveness. 5x less effective (is what they say - whatever that really means)

[Pobeka]

97. Thanks, think I found it.

It was data collected in Scotland (not a controlled trial).

And the results are extremely encouraging.

[lagomorph777]

88. Your post doesn't square with these reports:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/two-doses-vaccine-highly-effective-against-delta-variant-u-k-n1270776
"... two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 96 percent effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant, and two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 92 percent effective"


https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2021/06/delta-covid-variant-does-pfizer-vaccine-work-against-new-strain.html
"The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 88% effective against the Delta variant if both doses are taken, according to National Institutes of Health data obtained by NBC."

https://abc13.com/delta-variant-covid-us-what-is-coronavirus-does-pfizer-work-against-indian/10784221/
"Pfizer vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease two weeks after the second dose "

Moderna hasn't been fully tested agains the Delta variant, but there is optimism:
https://www.cnet.com/health/coronavirus-delta-variant-what-you-should-know/
"Although it wasn't used in this study because the vaccine hasn't been widely used in the UK, Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines and have similar reported efficacy rates.."

[Pobeka]

98. I have found news media reporting to be awful on details. Often quoting out of context.

It's a heavy dive, but going to the lancet or new enland journal directly and getting the original articles is the best way, and it's about an hour or two to read/digest those articles (at least for me).

With that said, what I saw in the actual data summaries in the lancet (Scotland observational study) suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is excellent at preventing infection that could even be detected by a covid test in the first place, and preventing hospitalization or death if you have both doses and tested positive for the Delta variant. The authors were careful to point out it was not a true controlled trial, but even with that caveat I was impressed how well the 2 dose Pfizer regimen appears to be working.

[lagomorph777]

99. Thank you! So the Lancet supports what I have been seeing: Pfizer is effective

Last edited Thu Jun 17, 2021, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

against the Delta variant.

(edited to remove Astra-Zeneca)

[Pobeka]

100. Your welcome, but Astra Zeneca only 60% effective against Delta

From the lancet article:

"Protection associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
(Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine) was,
however, substantial but reduced:
73% (95% CI 66–78) for S gene-
negative cases versus 60% (53–66)
for those S gene-positive (appendix
p 6)"

The S gene positive category means it was identified as the Delta Variant.

Being a Moderna-chipped individual (gotta have a little fun here ), I hope Moderna is as good as Pfizer appears to be against the Delta variant.

[lagomorph777]

103. Fair enough. Pfizer, Moderna, and (somewhat) J&J are the only ones used in the USA so far,

so knowing that Pfizer is pretty good, is important. Some are hoping that Moderna will be similar, because it's a similar vaccine.

[NH Ethylene]

90. One might presume that many vaccinated people continue to use precautions,

And that the breakthrough cases are among those who have become more relaxed.

So the actual chance of still getting it if exposed may be quite a bit higher.

[womanofthehills]

122. Now 4000 breakthroughs - it could keep climbing

Almost 4,000 people in Massachusetts who are fully vaccinated have tested positive for coronavirus, according to new data from the state Department of Public Health.

Reported in Boston Herald

[drray23]

6. for most people it's a non issue.

if it's mild symptoms who cares.

[Skittles]

9. that's exactly what maskholes have been saying all along

yup

[drray23]

13. not really.

the vaccine makes it such you are not going to be drastically sick. I trust the science on this. Unvaccinated people are still at deadly risk and should mask or get vaccinated.

[Skittles]

17. some people care about more than just themselves

indeed

[drray23]

18. the scientists also determined that once vaccinated

if you get covid your viral load is too low to pass it on so you are a dead end. That is how we will stop it and it will end up being like other managed diseases that we keep at bay with regular vaccination

[Mr.Bill]

33. I would say the thing that would concern me

is we know very little about long term effects of even mild cases. I'm not losing any sleep over it, though. The odds are still very small.

[womanofthehills]

86. In UK - one third of 42 deaths from Delta variant

Were fully vaccinated. It’s in all the UK news on the web. P

[vanlassie]

23. Not at all.

[FBaggins]

29. The fact that a wolf eventually showed up...

... adds no credibility to the boy who cried "wolf!"

[SheltieLover]

11. Pls see #3 👆

[LovingA2andMI]

62. That will be skipped over....

Nice try tho...

[SheltieLover]

77. Well

Easy to skip over words, but if infected, not easy to skip over.

[Skittles]

7. wait until the variants hit

yeah, I will stay masked, for sure

[OhioChick]

10. Agreed....

Delta variant B.1.617.2 is going to hit us like a mack truck.

[SheltieLover]

12. Already 24 cases in county where Memphis is

Ty for posting this!

[OhioChick]

14. It's nice to see you.....

[SheltieLover]

16. You, too!

Scary stuff, imo.

[sheshe2]

45. This

OP link:

"Testing to identify current infection remains critical to control of COVID-19," a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health said in a statement. "People with current infection can spread the virus to others and isolation of cases and identification of close contacts (individuals who may have been exposed) is a foundation of public health response."

In fact, the more contagious Delta COVID-19 variant, first identified in India, has been in Massachusetts for weeks now and is steadily rising. Experts say the Delta variant is more contagious and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization than the original "wild type" COVID-19 strain.

It is not over and those that think it is are foolish. I mask when I am out.

[OhioChick]

64. Thank you! n/t

[FBaggins]

30. The current evidence says it isn't

Reporting yesterday said that the Phizer vaccine was still 79% effective against the Delta variant and 96% protection against hospitalization. That isn't as effective as against the earlier variants, but it is a very significant figure. No "mack truck" at those levels.

[notpolltested]

35. It will not because the vaccines are still winning the race. nt

[speak easy]

42. The delta variant has hit. It is up to 10% of new infections.

Delta, now a 'variant of concern,' accounts for 10 percent of new U.S. cases, CDC says
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/newly-deemed-variant-concern-delta-accounts-10-percent-u-s-n1270915

[LymphocyteLover]

53. how do we know these aren't variants here?

I hope someone is sequencing these breakthrough viruses and checking for variants

[wnylib]

58. Delta variant is at 17% of all cases in NY state this week.

The numbers for Delta double every 2 weeks. So, by July 4th over 34% of all cases in NY will be the Delta variant. Vaccine studies say the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are around 80% effective against the Delta variant, down from 95% effective against the original strain that they were developed for.

Yesterday, the Buffalo NPR station reported that the Delta variant is in their county (Erie County, NY).

Yeah, I am still wearing a mask indoors wherever I go. Still avoiding large crowds indoors and out. Still social distancing.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

116. Staying masked already

Fully vaccinated with Moderna. Crossing my paws that it protects me from the variants.

If I have to get booster shots I'll get them asap. And keep masking.

[SheltieLover]

15. K&R!

[NutmegYankee]

19. Testing positive is one thing, showing severe symptoms is another.

So far breakthrough cases have been mild in most patients.

[Deminpenn]

21. As predicted by the trial data

that if you do happen to get covid19, the symptoms would be mild and require no hospitalization or result in death.

[NutmegYankee]

22. I think some the panic was because the UK saw higher cases.

But they also heavily used a vaccine, AstraZeneca, with a 20% lower effectiveness.

[getagrip_already]

26. there is another thread on the delta variant and breakthrough infections.....

One study showed the pfizer vax was 96% effective against hospitalizations; moderna was 92% effective.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15533336

[Jon King]

27. Goodness some on this site seem to enjoy something to worry about!

Thank you for publishing that study! Exactly, now the 'delta variant'....run for the hills!!! The delta variant is an issue in countries with LOW vaccination rates....it is not an issue for you the vaccinated!!!

Geez, enough already. Break through infections mean a tiny, tiny amount of virus was detected in a tiny, tiny percentage of people. None are going to be hospitalized.

We live in a country where 1500/day die of obesity related issues yet some want to worry about a receding virus, after they are vaccinated....in the one in a 10 million chance they might have an issue with the virus still.

[crimycarny]

32. Exactly--obesity and diabetes not as "sexy" and discussing a pandemic though

If anything the pandemic should have shed a light on just how much of an obesity epidemic we have here in the US. Obesity was (is) a MAJOR risk factor in severe complications from COVID. One thing I noted in the very young who died from this disease (teens and younger) is they were often obese (not just overweight, but obese).

This country has to find a way to help families eat healthier because it's not easy and it's not cheap. You're a single mom working 2 jobs, what are you most likely going to resort to for family meals? Whatever is fast and cheap--and that ain't the healthy stuff. Also, wealthier areas tend to have a grocery story on every corner whereas poorer areas it's often the local fast food joint or gas station nearby. We HAVE to make access to healthier food cheaper and easier. The same goes for having gyms or other areas of recreation easily accessible by all, not just those who can afford it.

[iemanja]

46. The OPs are publishing information

that is relevant. I grow tired of people who expect the news to be censored so as not to affect their delicate sensibilities.

Trash the thread if you don't want to see it.

[notpolltested]

55. Yes people should post as they choose, but continuing to cry wolf when in reality the chances

of a breakthrough case are small and hospitalization even smaller, could cause people to turn the other way if there is actual danger in the future. A lot of the same folks who are screaming about variants now were predicting impending doom back in March, when in reality cases plateaued for a bit and then continued to drop.

[iemanja]

121. How is this crying wolf?

It's showing the numbers of people infected, which are statistically very low. That you interpret it as crying wolf is projecting your emotions onto an article rather than accurately interpreting its content.

[womanofthehills]

84. The Lancet posted a study a few weeks ago

That the Pfizer vaccine was 5X less effective against the Delta variant. They also said if you were older or had your vaccine early (Jan) -you might have dwindling antibodies to Delta.

[getagrip_already]

87. it's more a nuanced position than you summarize...

I looked up the study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01290-3/fulltext#coronavirus-linkback-header and found other articles on it.

"The team, that only studied efficacy of Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2), said the vaccine was sufficiently effective in protecting against severe disease in people who were infected with the Delta variant, the antibody levels generated in vaccinated people’s blood samples were low when tested against this variant as compared to others.

Their research also showed that although a single dose of the vaccine may still afford considerably more protection than no vaccination, single-dose recipients are likely to be less protected against the three SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, namely B.1.617.2, B.1.351 (first identified in South Africa) and B.1.1.7 (first identified in the UK).

The researchers also warn that increased age was also associated with lower antibody activity against B.1.617.2 and B.1.351. This, the researchers suggest, means that older populations in countries where these strains are prevalent may need further booster shots of the vaccine."

The Delta variant is B.1.617.2. So the study warns against single shot pfizer vaccinations, and warns that older populations may need a booster for the the Delta and South African variants.

They did not compare the pfizer vaccine to other vaccines, so I'm not sure where you 5x stat came from?

Oh, and more studies are needed.

[Dopers_Greed]

31. Oh no! We can't have the virus under control!

What will the M$M fear monger about then?

[BootinUp]

36. The vaccinations were mishandled? - a guess nt

[LovingA2andMI]

65. That can never be a guess....

Never, ever.

[BootinUp]

66. oops, shut my keyboard

[Evolve Dammit]

38. Regardless of the stats, doesn't it make sense to keep wearing a mask and stay away from crowds??

[hamsterjill]

104. Makes perfect sense to me.

That’s why I’m going to continue doing it!

[littlemissmartypants]

127. Yes and it's also a great way to protect others and yourself. That community component is underrated

And is barely mentioned in this thread in particular. Which makes me somewhat disappointed but not surprised. But I believe, that I have an obligation to expect that you are entitled to the same health and safety I am.

Also, that I have an obligation to my fellow humans to facilitate that health and safety, whatever communicable disease we're talking about.

❤

[appalachiablue]

39. An important report, I wonder if the

breakthrough cases are evaluated for common factors- age, obesity, other health conditions.

Breakthoughs and rise of the Delta Variant are of concern. Appreciate the update.

[Yavin4]

43. This article is using scare tactics to manipulate its audience.

There are 3,500,011 vaccinated people in Mass, and among them, 3,641 cases were reported for a positivity percentage of .0010. This is proof that the vaccines are working.

Now, when you look at cases, Mass currently has a 7 day average of 99 new cases which down from their 7-day average a month ago of 707 cases.

The current 7-day average for deaths is 5. A month ago, it was 10.

Finally, there are only 56 people hospitalized in the state for the virus.

The actual numbers do not warrant the emotional tone of the article.

[LymphocyteLover]

54. the headline certainly seems overly alarmist

[Blues Heron]

105. How is stating the numbers alarmist - it literally just says the number

of cases and the time frame - and that's alarmist?

"More Than 500 Breakthrough Infections Reported in Mass. in Under 3 Weeks"

Isn't it just stating a fact?

[greenjar_01]

57. Agreed

It had the desired effect among the crisis-hungry, though.

[turbinetree]

44. So in other words if you have health problems like having a heart disease

or going through chemo-therapy and you run into some that have this mutation....there could be problem if I read this correctly...just great....

[subterranean]

49. A little context: That's roughly 10% of the total cases reported during that period.

So despite these breakthrough cases, the infection rate among people who are fully vaccinated is still much lower than those who are not. (As of June 5, about 55% of eligible residents in Massachusetts were fully vaxxed.)

I think we can expect the total number of cases, including breakthrough cases, to continue to drop as the vaccination rate increases.

[ShazamIam]

59. If you are interested here is a cdc.gov press release about this. It is all about

looking for the cause. But vaccine effacy failures are not a new thing. I am very interested if these cases are random according to individuals or if there are a few commonalities.

So the press release left me with more questions and the knowledge that they have to analyze the data to find the cause.

[LovingA2andMI]

60. More than 500 fully vaccinated people tested positive for coronavirus in Massachusetts....

ADE is another one of those conspiracy theories. Just like the lab leak...oops - there's a going investigation now for this now, right.

[róisín_dubh]

63. I have to get tested today...

my partner (not vaxxed) feels unwell and the Delta variant is creeping in all over the UK; he's got the symptoms of the Delta variant (sore throat, pounding headache). I'm fully vaccinated, but I want to be on the safe side- if his kids need anything, I'll be the one who helps them out. We're waiting on his test, but I'll have my results in about 20 minutes through my work.

[LovingA2andMI]

67. There are effective treatments.....

For the Non-vaxxed as well as vaxxed individuals. They work, also.

[Kablooie]

70. Ive got my Clorox bottle ready as a backup for my vaccine.

[LovingA2andMI]

71. Okay...

If you think that's an effective treatment....

[Kablooie]

72. It has the added benefit of making my whites whiter.

Non of the vaccines can do that.

[roamer65]

107. ..

[LovingA2andMI]

126. Cute...

Not!

[róisín_dubh]

73. We're not overly concerned.

He has no cough or fever and he’s healthy as a horse. I know that doesn’t always mean anything, but I feel way less worried than I would have a year ago.
Being vaxxed has its perks. I still mask up indoors and would even if it wasn’t required here.

[moniss]

68. First

let me say that my comment is not meant to demean anybody. However I do wish people would get a grip when talking about numbers, percentages etc. The OP simply posted an article for information sake and should not be accused of "fear-mongering" etc. Now, having said all of that, news people and many others start talking about these numbers without an understanding of several important points. Number one is that it is not appropriate to take the information that x number of people who showed up at a hospital had been vaccinated and then extrapolate that as representing the percentage of totally vaccinated people who are being affected. That's not how calculating relevant percentages of related things works. Why you might ask? Because of several factors. One of which is that this would be a very small sample size in a large figure like over 3.5 million people. The sample size that would be useful/statistically significant would have to come from the virology people and we don't see any of them giving that info. The numbers will likely change up and down as more time goes by. We may never get to a close number because of the number of people who don't get tested for one reason or another despite feeling under the weather. It could be big or small. We just don't know. Another very large factor would be whether these breakthrough cases were affected by how stringent the people showing up with breakthrough cases had been about masking etc. It is wrong to get the first shot and then just throw caution to the wind as far as masking/distancing etc. It is also wrong to assume that the cases that showed up were ever very cautious. In other words were many of these cases contracted as a result of risky behavior that is not representative of the vaccinated population as a whole? We don't know and that could change any "risk" calculations. Lots of factors come in to play in how "likely" a person is to get infected once they have been vaccinated and a longer period of time and much more information is needed in order for anybody to start putting decimal points to percentages. It is all a situation that is moving every day and it is simply wise to remain vigilant and also wise to not get too into a "numbers" analysis as a basis for making your daily decisions. I thank the OP for posting the article and starting the discussion.

[Elessar Zappa]

79. Meh.

Not statistically significant. I’ll continue going maskless unless a business requires it or a variant emerges which truly evades the vaccine.

[marie999]

108. What is so hard about wearing a mask?

[littlemissmartypants]

128. That's my question. Especially since we know that it not only protects me from getting infected but

It also helps prevent the spread. It's an effective tool in the fight against the spread which has the added effect of helping to reduce the development and propagation of variants.

Why would you just throw out what is a known effective tool in your toolbox because you've added another, different and differently specialized tool?

I'm left with the impression that once someone gets a vaccine then everyone else is on their own. If only communicable disease was that intellectually sophisticated. It's still a pandemic whether you are vaccinated or not. That fundamental fact hasn't changed.

[JohnSJ]

80. The question is how many of these people were hospitalized, and which vaccine were they given

[NH Ethylene]

91. I wonder how many of these cases are caused by the Delta variant.

I know Mass. had its fair share of this variant going around as of several weeks ago.

[Warpy]

94. "Tested positive" does not equal ill

Vaccines work by jump starting the immune system whenever that particular bug appears. Most likely the PCR machines are picking up viral debris from a fast immune response.

Now if the headline had read "500 people fall ill with Covid after being fully vaccinated" it would be different, but not much. The vaccines promise 90% protection, not 100%, so 500 infections detected out of 3.5 million people is nothing.

I hate articles like this, reporters just don't know enough to tell the whole story, like whether or not these "breakthrough infections" were only picked up because of routine PCR test screening at work or whether the people presented with new and moderate to serious illness. Otherwise, it looks like paranoia, seasonal allergy, and viral debris detection.

Bottom line, sloppy reporting that feeds into vaccine paranoia doesn't help.

[roamer65]

106. So how many of the "breakthroughs" were admitted to the hospital?

That’s the $64,000 question.

I’d bet it’s almost zero.

[riversedge]

117. drats.

[Maxheader]

123. We should know by now..

Corona is far from being contained. The states should not

be opening up , just to have to shut down. Easy for me to say,

retired. ..