Yale University has published a new study that evaluates who is the most risky breakthrough of Covid-19 infection after being fully vaccinated. Although infection remains very rare compared to those who are not vaccinated, the number of cases has increased when the variant spreads, especially a very contagious Delta variant.
In most cases, individuals who are fully vaccinated contracted the Covid-19 breakthrough case there is no experience or very mild symptoms. However, a small portion of these individuals can continue to develop serious illness despite vaccines – and it is these cases, the new study looked at.
This finding was based on 969 Covid-19 cases among patients who were hospitalized in the Yale New Haven health system. Of these cases, which lasted for 14 weeks earlier this year, 54 patients had been fully vaccinated before infection. The patients experienced various severity during their infection.
A total of 14 breakthrough cases reached the ‘severe’ or ‘critical’ stage, which meant they needed complementary oxygen while being treated at the hospital. These four patients ended in the ICU and three of them died. From vaccinated patients who developed severe Covid-19, most of them were at the older tip of the age spectrum, falling between the ages of 65 and 95 years – their average age was 80.5.
Existing comorbidity also existed, including type-2 diabetes and heart disease. Some patients who are severely affected also use immunosuppressive drugs, which can reduce how effective the vaccine is in offering protection.