BATON ROUGE – As of Friday (April 2), 126 people in Louisiana have been classified as a ‘breakthrough’ COVID vaccine that tested positive for coronavirus after being completely vaccinated.
About half of the breakthrough cases were found during routine examinations and the patients were asymptomatic at the time of the test, health officials said Friday.
A person is fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second or two doses.
The 126 cases of people who contracted COVID, even after being fully vaccinated, are a small fraction of the number of people who have completed the vaccine series. Of the most recent data, 782,189, people in Louisiana were fully vaccinated. The 126 people represent 0.02%.
“Keep in mind that these vaccines are very effective – 95% for Pfizer, 94% for Moderna and 73% for Johnson & Johnson – and all three are 100% effective in preventing serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths,” said state health officials.
‘This [breakthrough] cases are extremely rare, ”added state health officials.
Data were not immediately available Friday regarding specific information about the vaccinations the 126 received, their ages or which areas in the state had the most breakthrough cases.
The COVID vaccines are safe and effective, and during clinical trials COVID-positive cases have been identified after a person has been vaccinated in a small number of vaccinations. The trials in all three vaccinations have been shown to be 100% effective in hospitalization and to prevent death., “added state health officials.
However, the Department of Health has quantified: ‘No vaccine is 100% effective in 100% of the circumstances, which is why protective herd immunity through extensive vaccination in the community remains a goal in Louisiana and nationwide. This is also the reason why we keep emphasizing it until our herd immunity with a mask and social removal are important tools to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID. ‘
The state announced the number of so-called breakthrough cases on Friday, more than a week after the WBRZ investigation unit first asked the health department for data.
“Even with these highly effective vaccines, it is still important to put in place common sense protective measures until we reach herd immunity. These include wearing a mask, washing hands, social distance and staying home when you are ill. “Masks are especially important because of the COVID variants used in the U.S. and in Louisiana,” LDH said in an earlier statement to WBRZ.
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