Breakthrough examples are rare, but they do happen.
As fantastic as they are, the
coronavirus vaccines do not provide 100% protection against COVID-19. And now
we know how many patients have gotten COVID after being vaccinated, a condition
known as a "breakthrough" infection, especially since Omicron is better
at evading immunity. "A breakthrough infection or vaccine failure occurs
when a person contracts an infection despite having been vaccinated against
it," Dr. Anthony Fauci explained, noting that while most vaccines protect
you against severe sickness, they are not "100% efficient or
successful." Read on to learn how to recognize a breakthrough infection
and avoid being sick after vaccination.
1. Omicron is Causing Many
"Breakthrough" Infections
Omicron is causing more cases of a
breakthrough than ever before. According to Dr. Jacob M. Lurie, a resident
physician, and Dr. Gunisha Kaur, a physician and human rights researcher, the
frequency of these breakthrough infections isn't caused for concern. According
to the authors, "the messaging around these infections incorrectly
emphasizes on their numbers and employs a misunderstood word — 'breakthrough'
infections — that might make the instances sound more unexpected and deadly
than they are," as they explained to NBC News. "Receiving a
vaccination does not guarantee that the receiver will not develop any signs of
the sickness. Vaccinations provide increased protection against serious illness
and death."
"What is remarkable about the
Covid vaccines is their capacity to prevent a large number of major illnesses,
hospitalizations, and deaths in the face of breakthrough infections, and to do
so effectively for different strains," the researchers continued. The vast
majority of hospitalized and dying patients are unvaccinated.
2. Right Now, We are Facing a
"Tsunami" of Infections, Breakthrough, and Otherwise
"When you're experiencing such
a... tsunami of infections," Dr. Fauci said on CNN's New Day yesterday,
"we're seeing patients who are vaccinated and boosted who are getting
breakthrough infections." That's why he advises against going out with a
large group of people right now; think about where you're going. "When
there are so many infections going around, the thing you want to say is that if
you want to do activities like eating out, do them in a setting where you know
the individuals around you are vaccinated and boosted," he says.
3. Dr. Fauci Explains How You Could
Get COVID Even After Your Vaccine
Dr. Fauci discussed why a vaccine
could not be entirely successful. He started with primary vaccination failure,
which he defined as "when the body does not mount an appropriate immune
response for several reasons," including "immune status, health
condition, age drugs you're on, or something wrong with the vaccine storage
delivery composition." The following reason a vaccine can fail is that
immunity fades over time. "When immunity fades over time, secondary
vaccination failure can occur," he explained. This is mainly why we get
the flu shot every year. He also mentioned failure as a result of a mutation.
"Now, if a person is exposed to a new or different strain or variant, a
vaccine may fail," he explained. This is why Omicron is so prevalent.
4. The CDC Says Here's How to Protect Yourself Best
"CDC recommends that all
eligible people receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one becomes
available," said the CDC. People who have been wholly vaccinated should
continue to take precautions in public areas, such as wearing a mask,
maintaining at least six feet apart from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated
spaces, and washing their hands frequently," according to the CDC.
"The safest place to be is at
home, among friends and relatives who have been vaccinated and boosted."
If you want to go the extra mile, get a fast antigen test, which will provide
you with an added layer of protection. You should avoid gatherings of 20, 30,
40, or 50 people, many of whom you don't know whether or not they've been
vaccinated or boosted. 'It's riskier than doing it at home,' adds Dr. Fauci.
5. Final Thoughts From Dr. Fauci
Dr. Fauci brought attention to a
critical point. "A vaccine generally protects against serious disease even
if it fails to protect against infection," he said. He provided vaccines
such as those for chickenpox, shingles, and influenza. "Getting vaccinated,
without a doubt, reduces your chances of getting the flu," he stated.
"However, even if you do get the flu and become ill, immunization can help
you avoid getting into difficulty by reducing the severity and duration of your
illness." So be vaccinated as soon as it's available.