Whatcom County reports four more fully vaccinated residents test positive for COVID-19
CORRECTION: The Whatcom County Health Department changed the number of breakthrough vaccine cases it has seen. The information was updated April 14, 2020.
Another four Whatcom County residents who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have since tested positive for the respiratory illness, the Whatcom County Health Department reported Wednesday, April 14.
That brings to 21 the total of breakthrough infections since vaccination began in the area Dec. 18, health department spokesperson Melissa Morin told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
“None of these breakthrough cases have resulted in hospitalization or death,” Morin wrote.
The health department initially reported eight new breakthrough cases, but later decreased that total by four, Morin said, adding, “We are currently investigating some additional cases that are not be included in the total reported by” the Washington State Department of Health.
Earlier Wednesday, the state Department of Health reported in a news release that there have been 217 breakthrough cases statewide, as of April 3 — up since the state first reported 102 breakthrough cases March 30. So far, breakthrough cases have occurred in 24 of the state’s 39 counties.
Whatcom’s change in data does not impact the state’s number of breakthrough cases, spokesperson Teresa McCallion told The Bellingham Herald Thursday.
Statewide, five people between 67- and 94-years-old who all had underlying conditions, have died, according to the release. That total includes four residents of long-term care facilities.
The state release said approximately 12% of breakthrough cases have resulted in hospitalization, while most breakthrough patients suffered only mild or no symptoms.
“Finding evidence of vaccine breakthrough cases reminds us that, even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others who have not been vaccinated,” Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah said in the release. “We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, and encourage friends, loved ones, and co-workers to do the same.”
A vaccine breakthrough occurs when a person tests positive for COVID-19 two weeks after being fully vaccinated against the disease with either a second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
As of Saturday, April 10, more than 1.7 million people have been fully vaccinated in the state, according to the release, meaning the 217 breakthrough cases represent approximately 0.01% of those vaccinated people.
According to the state vaccination reports, 56,526 people Whatcom County residents were fully vaccinated as of midnight March 20, meaning they had two weeks for their vaccines to reach peak efficacy by April 3. The 21 breakthrough cases in Whatcom County represent less than 0.04% of those who are fully vaccinated, according to an analysis by The Bellingham Herald.
As of Saturday, April 10, 52,418 Whatcom County residents have received either two Pfizer or Moderna doses or one Johnson & Johnson dose, and another 26,444 have received their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
“Large-scale clinical studies found that COVID-19 vaccines prevented most people from getting COVID-19 illness,” the state Department of Health said in the release. “However, the vaccines are not 100% effective. This means a very small number of fully vaccinated people will still get sick with COVID-19. Scientists note that breakthroughs are expected with any vaccine.”
The state Department of Health release said the median age of those to suffer a breakthrough infection has shifted younger than in the first report, with more people in the 40-59 age group, and some of the breakthrough cases showed evidence of COVID variants.
This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 1:18 PM.
