Breakthrough infections make up less than 3% of all COVID cases reported this year – WRAL.com

The number of breakthrough cases has more than doubled since Jan. 1, according to state data.

Nearly 16,000 COVID-19 cases were reported among those who have already got their shot since the beginning of 2021, which is less than 3% of all cases reported.

Ninety-two people who were already vaccinated have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of this year, state officials say, which is a little more than 1% of all reported coronavirus deaths.

This data shows that getting vaccinated decreases one’s chance of contracting the virus and dying, local health officials say.

More than 88% of all coronavirus cases reported since May 6 have been among people who are not vaccinated.

“When infections do occur after vaccination, they are generally less severe than infections in people who are unvaccinated, with 89% of COVID-19-related deaths since May 6 occurring in people who were not fully vaccinated,” according to a spokesperson with the state Department of Health and Human Services.