COVID-19 Cases Among PA's Vaccinated Extremely Rare, Data Shows

PENNSYLVANIA — The COVID-19 vaccine has seen overwhelming success in protecting Pennsylvanians from contracting the virus, according to the most recent data. Only a very small number of fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians — 331 — have tested positive for coronavirus, indicating that the vaccine is working even better in practice across the state than it did in clinical trials.

Those 331 cases are out of 2.6 million individuals in the state who have received all recommended doses, and some 6.7 million who have received at least one dose.

Some small number of cases amongst vaccinated individuals was expected, as Moderna's clinical efficacy rate was 94 percent and Pfizer's was 95 percent (the recently paused Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 72 percent). These numbers are particularly high, as the seasonal flu vaccine is often only about 40 percent effective, officials said.

But thus far in Pennsylvania, the numbers bear out a far higher success rate: 331 "breakthrough" cases out of 2.6 million is a 99.9 efficacy rate.

"Breakthrough cases are normal with any vaccine," Maggi Barton, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, told Patch. "We know that the more people are vaccinated, and the fewer chances for exposure and infection there are, the less likely we are to see breakthrough cases."

Another way of looking at it is that just 0.0127 percent of fully vaccinated individuals have become infected in the state.

Of course, there remains the possibility that some number of asymptomatic cases are going untested. And, further, there is the possibility that more vaccinated individuals could become positive in the future. The state says they're monitoring the situation closely.

"Breakthrough cases are another reminder that COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities," Barton added. "We must continue to follow the mitigation efforts in place and proven public health practices such as washing hands, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and getting tested if they have COVID symptoms, even after being fully vaccinated."

Moreover, authorities have noted that while the rate of success of a vaccine in preventing infection may vary, its most important defense is against serious illness.

"It's 100 percent effective in terms of preventing hospitalization, it's 100 percent effective in terms of preventing hospitalization and death," Gov. Wolf said last month.

The news comes as the state handles the fallout from the pause on J&J doses over concerns related to extremely rare side effects. Six women, out of more than 7 million vaccinated individuals nationwide, suffered blood clots.

A total of 4,247,515 partial doses and 2,637,654 full doses have been administered in Pennsylvania as of Friday. That's a total of 6,885,169 Pennsylvanians who have received at least one dose, or well more than half of the population.

For full information about getting a coronavirus vaccine in Pennsylvania, visit Patch's information hub.