Bill Maher Contracts COVID-19 Despite Being Vaccinated In Latest Breakthrough Case

Television personality and comedian Bill Maher announced Thursday night that he had contracted COVID-19 but is completely asymptomatic despite being fully vaccinated.

Maher and his HBO talk show, “Real Time with Bill Maher," took to Twitter to tell fans that the taping of his Friday show has been canceled out of an abundance of caution.

The 65-year-old Maher discovered he had contracted the virus when the show performed its regular weekly testing. The show said no other cast or staff members tested positive.

Thanks to all wishing me get well - hard to do since I feel perfectly fine, but I appreciate it! Most upset about ending my streak going back to 1993 of never missing a Politically Incorrect or Real Time episode. Oh well, even Cal Ripken had to sit one out at some point.
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) May 14, 2021

pic.twitter.com/dSBoyr1U5c
— Real Time with Bill Maher (@RealTimers) May 13, 2021

Those who are vaccinated still have a chance of getting the virus in what are being called “breakthrough cases.” Since the jabs are about 90%-95% effective, there are only a small number of cases of hospitalizations or deaths.

Most breakthrough cases involve asymptomatic infections, the CDC explained, opening the question many Americans have on their minds: “How many people are in this same position but have no idea they are infected?”

And to think, you'd never know you are spreading it unless you were tested.
How many people are in your position and don't know it?
— Cat Slave of Kitten Town 💚 (@RescueFelines) May 14, 2021

Now we learn Bill Maher has COVID? He is fully vaccinated. This is why I will still wear a mask.
— Sona C. ~ J6C- Truth 💙🇺🇦✌️ (@NycsonaPryanka) May 14, 2021

Bill Maher cancelled this week's show because he tested positive for Covid-19. He's vaccinated and asymptomatic. Unlike Bill, most of us who have been vaccinated aren't getting tested regularly. So if we could be carriers, how is it ok to go without a mask now? I don't get it.
— ross (@ross_rlz) May 14, 2021

Maher isn't the first high-profile individual to suffer a breakthrough infection. The New York Yankees recently had a handful of breakthrough cases, including shortstop Gleyber Torres and eight Yankee employees.

Maher has been known to bash the America's response to the virus, as well as the left's drastic measures taken during the pandemic. He shared that opinion on his show as recently as April.

"[Democrats] also have a greatly exaggerated view of the danger of COVID to and the mortality rate among children, all of which explains why today the states with the highest share of schools that are still closed are all blue states," Maher stated, per Fox News. "So if the right-wing media bubble has to own things like climate change denial, shouldn't liberal media have to answer for 'How did your audience wind up believing such bunch of crap about COVID?'

"When all of our sources for medical information have an agenda to spin us, yeah, you wind up with a badly misinformed population, including on the left," Maher continued. "Liberals often mock the Republican misinformation bubble ... but what about liberals? You know, the high-information, by-the-science people?"

"Real Time" is expected to return to the air next week.