144 Fully Vaccinated Massachusetts Residents Die Of COVID-19; 19,443 Breakthrough Cases Recorded

KEY POINTS

The breakthrough deaths represent 0.003% of the state's fully vaccinated population
Experts say the rise in breakthrough cases is caused by the Delta variant and the waning protection from vaccines
New research showed vaccines are still effective in preventing breakthrough infections

Nearly 150 fully vaccinated residents in Massachusetts have died of COVID-19 as the number of breakthrough cases rises to over 19,000, according to the latest state data.

Data published by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health this week showed a total of 19,443 breakthrough COVID-19 cases in the state since the beginning of the pandemic, up from 15,739 cases reported as of Aug. 24. Of the breakthrough infections, at least 144 fully vaccinated people have died of the novel coronavirus, up from 131 deaths reported last week.

The number of breakthrough infections represents 0.43% of the state’s more than 4.5 million fully vaccinated people. The deaths represent 0.003%.

The breakthrough cases announced by officials in Massachusetts have been climbing each week. Between July 10 and 17, authorities recorded approximately 700 COVID-19 cases involving fully vaccinated residents. Between Aug. 7 and 14, the number rose to almost 2,700 cases.

Experts believe the rise in breakthrough cases is caused by the spread of the more contagious Delta variant and the waning protection from the original course of vaccinations.

“Even if you have a highly effective vaccine, if you have high community prevalence of an infectious agent, you’re going to see a substantial number of cases in the vaccinated,” Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, who heads the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told The Boston Globe.

Despite the rise in breakthrough infections, research on more than 1 million people showed that the vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations.

The research, published Wednesday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, looked at data collected from over a million people from December 2020 to July 2021 through the ZOE Covid Study. Data showed that less than 0.2% of the study’s participants suffered a breakthrough infection. The cases occurred more in people who were vulnerable to the virus, including older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Of those who experienced breakthrough infections, only 6% said they developed mild symptoms.