Some continue to test positive after becoming fully vaccinated. Doctors say that's to be expected
Health officials say some cases will break through as long as virus still spreading
Health officials say some cases will break through as long as virus still spreading
Health officials say some cases will break through as long as virus still spreading
Three people in New Hampshire have come down with COVID-19 after they were fully vaccinated, but health officials say that's to be expected while the virus is still spreading widely in the community.
Dr. Beth Daly, chief of the New Hampshire's Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, said the three Granite Staters who contracted the virus were at least two weeks past their second shots.
New Hampshire has averaged about 450 cases per day across all age groups, but Daly said the increase is more pronounced in younger people.
Just over 22.4% of the state is now fully vaccinated, but officials said that's not enough to keep case counts low, as transmission is still happening in households, as well as in clusters from social events and other settings.
Daly said there will still be new cases even after most people get the shot.
"We know that these vaccines aren't 100% effective," she said. "We are going to have what we call breakthrough disease, which is when someone acquires COVID-19 even though they're fully vaccinated. For the most part, though, especially the vaccines that are currently in use right now, they're very effective at preventing COVID-19, and so we have seen reductions in transmission among those who are highly vaccinated."
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Daly said she expects to see other cases among fully vaccinated people.
"We do collect information on the vaccine they got," she said. "It's not necessarily a matter of failure of the vaccine per say though. Again, these vaccines aren't 100% effective.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk of infection can't be completely eliminated, as long as there is still community transmission of the virus.
