I’ve come to view the period from May to July of last year as the “honeymoon phase” of COVID-19. After a devastating winter surge in cases and fatalities, infection rates were finally dropping across much of the U.S. Many essential workers and older adults had received their vaccinations, and those of us eager for the vaccine could finally get our shots. We began reconnecting with friends and family, sharing long-awaited hugs and emotional moments.
Social media was filled with reunion photos tagged with #thankyouscience and #vaccinesbringuscloser. The vaccines felt like true miracles, guiding us toward the light at the end of this crisis. After all, those mRNA vaccines boasted 95% efficacy, and the CDC indicated that vaccinated individuals, even if they did contract the virus, were unlikely to spread it to others.
Feeling fully vaccinated was like donning a suit of armor. Even without our younger children being eligible for the vaccine, we believed we could socialize with other vaccinated people without worry. But then news of the Delta variant emerged, a strain of COVID-19 that seemed to evade some of the vaccine’s protective effects. Reports surfaced of fully vaccinated individuals contracting Delta. While these cases tended to be mild, it still raised concerns—especially for those of us who thought we were safe.
The turning point for me was reading a post by Alex Rivera, who detailed how his entire family caught COVID, despite three out of four being fully vaccinated. His unvaccinated child was the initial carrier, leading to infections in the rest of the family. While his vaccinated teen remained symptom-free, both he and his wife fell ill.
Like most fully vaccinated individuals who experience breakthrough infections, Alex and his wife had relatively mild cases and recovered at home. Medical professionals agree that even with Delta’s ability to bypass some vaccine defenses, the shots remain highly effective at preventing severe illness and death. “The effectiveness of a vaccine is measured by its ability to prevent serious illness,” Dr. Johnson emphasized in a recent interview. The New York Times noted that over 97% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
While the CDC is not tracking mild breakthrough cases, the rising reports in the media and anecdotal accounts indicate an increase in these infections. However, the exact likelihood of a vaccinated person experiencing a breakthrough infection remains unclear, with estimates of vaccine efficacy against Delta ranging from 88% to alarmingly low figures.
This leads many to wonder: why is this happening? Why aren’t the vaccines providing greater protection against the virus?
As science writer Tara Lee explains, breakthrough infections can occur for several reasons, and the Delta variant’s heightened infectiousness is a significant factor. Delta is twice as transmissible as earlier COVID strains, with infected individuals carrying 1,000 times more virus in their systems. This means that when a vaccinated person encounters Delta, their immune system faces a more formidable challenge. While the vaccine prepares the immune system to fight, the sheer volume of the virus can overwhelm defenses.
As Tara notes, “A vaccinated person exposed to a low viral load may not become infected, but exposure to the high viral loads of the Delta variant increases the likelihood of infection.” Fortunately, vaccinated individuals typically clear the virus more quickly and with less severe symptoms because their immune systems are primed to respond.
Given the current situation, public health experts are advising even vaccinated individuals to resume precautions, such as wearing masks indoors. The effectiveness of vaccines is undeniable, yet with such a highly transmissible virus in circulation, adopting a layered approach to safety is becoming increasingly important. Personally, I continued to wear masks indoors to protect my unvaccinated child, and with the rise in breakthrough infections, I’m more cautious than ever.
Moreover, as Dr. Lisa Green points out, a significant factor in this situation is the ongoing number of unvaccinated individuals in the country. The combination of a highly transmissible variant and a large unvaccinated population leads to increased virus circulation, heightening the risk of vaccinated people contracting it.
This situation reinforces the reality that combating this pandemic is a collective effort. It’s not just about personal protection; vaccines are most effective when a significant portion of the population is vaccinated. The Delta variant shows us that we still have a long way to go.
So, please, if you’re unvaccinated, consider getting vaccinated—those of us who have made the responsible choice are feeling the weight of this ongoing burden.
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Summary
Breakthrough COVID-19 infections in vaccinated individuals are occurring due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, which can overwhelm vaccine-induced immunity. While vaccines remain effective at preventing severe illness, public health experts recommend renewed precautions to mitigate risks, particularly given the large number of unvaccinated people still in circulation.
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