Over Half of New COVID-19 Cases Now Have a “Breakthrough” In Vaccinated Individuals – ClarkCountyToday.com

Breakthrough cases double in Clark County as the Omicron wave hits

As of September, nearly 20 percent of Clark County’s COVID-19 cases were among those vaccinated. These “breakthrough” cases indicated that the current vaccinations did not “protect” people from contracting the coronavirus. By the end of December, 43 percent of the county’s cases were either fully or partially vaccinated, according to Clark County Public Health (CCPH).

Breakthrough reports have raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccinations. This coincided with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changing the definition of “vaccine” from “immunity” to a pathogen to “protection”.

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus has hit the United States and Washington state. In Clark County, the health department reported 1,493 new cases between December 23 and December 29. By January 6, the number had more than doubled to 3,261 confirmed and probable cases.

The Omicron variant appears to be the majority of the new cases in the state. Early reports suggest that it has much less severe symptoms but is far more transmissible than the Delta variant that spread this summer and fall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 98 percent of COVID-19 cases are from the Omicron variant.  It is much more transmissible than previous variants of the coronavirus, but has significantly milder symptoms.  Image courtesy of CDCThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 98 percent of COVID-19 cases are from the Omicron variant. It is much more transmissible than previous variants of the coronavirus, but has significantly milder symptoms. Image courtesy of CDC

Omicron was responsible for 98.3 percent of new coronavirus cases in the United States last week, according to CDC estimates. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the highly contagious variant “will find almost anyone”.

“Omicron will ultimately find just about everyone with its exceptional, unparalleled transfer efficiency,” said Fauci. “Those who were vaccinated … and boosted would be exposed. Some, maybe many of them, will become infected, but with a few exceptions it will very likely be reasonably well in the sense that they will not be hospitalized and will not die. “

The vaccines don’t appear to be preventing the spread of Omicron if the early reports are still correct. According to the Washington Department of Health (DOH), both vaccinated and unvaccinated people are now developing COVID-19. Officials say those vaccinated are less likely to be hospitalized or have “severe” symptoms.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announced that two doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine offer “very limited, if any, protection” against Omicron. His company is working on an Omicron-specific vaccine that they plan to submit to the FDA in March.

The “breakthrough cases” as they have become known now appear to account for half of all new cases in the state. When comparing a December 21 report with a December 14 report, the DOH shows that 51 percent of new cases appear to be groundbreaking. Cases of previously vaccinated people.

The DOH reports that as of December 11th, a report dated December 22nd had identified 86,237 breakthrough cases of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in Washington state. Of the cases for which data are available (about 50 percent): 87 percent reported symptoms and 8 percent were hospitalized. They report that 851 people have died from a COVID-related illness since January 2021.

South Africa is the origin of Omicron. The productive Omicron wave seems to be slacking off there just as quickly as it has grown.

New reports show that Omicron is even more portable. Preliminary results from two South African clinical studies suggest that the Omicron coronavirus variant has a much higher rate of “asymptomatic carriage” than previous variants, which may explain why it has spread so quickly around the world.

The studies – one of which was done when Omicron infections were rising in South Africa last month and another that re-examined participants around the same time – found far greater numbers of people tested positive for the coronavirus but showed no symptoms compared to previous studies.

According to Clark County Public Health, 38.7 percent of COVID-19 cases were fully vaccinated and another 4.9 percent were partially vaccinated.  That's double what it was as of September, as the Omicron variant sweeps through the county.  Graphic courtesy of Clark County Public HealthAccording to Clark County Public Health, 38.7 percent of COVID-19 cases were fully vaccinated and another 4.9 percent were partially vaccinated. That’s double what it was as of September, as the Omicron variant sweeps through the county. Graphic courtesy of Clark County Public Health

One study showed a positivity rate of 31 percent and the other a 16 percent percentage of positive cases. Previous studies before Omicron showed a positivity rate of 1 to 2 percent for the Moderna vaccine and a positivity rate of 2.6 percent for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

South Africa saw a spike in COVID-19 infections from late November, around the time its scientists brought Omicron to the world’s attention. But new cases have since declined, and early signs suggest the wave was marked by less serious illnesses than previous ones.

“I think it’s hard to process what’s happening right now, which is: Most people will get COVID,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said at a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday. “And what we have to do is make sure the hospitals are still up and running, the transportation, you know, other vital services are not going to be interrupted during this time.”

Early treatment

Early treatment seems to be key to dealing with any variant of COVID-19. “If you get this virus, get treatment,” Vancouver-based Bryan White said on social media. “Do not wait. Just start taking care of yourself. “

White contracted the coronavirus in early January. He used budesonide nebulizer treatment, increased his multiple vitamin intake, and took melatonin to support his immune system. White also used ivermectin to fight the virus.

On the fourth day, while walking around, his blood oxygen was consistently above 95 percent. It stayed at 99 percent while he sat. “Early treatment works,” said White.

State-run DOH says, “COVID-19 vaccines are powerful and crucial tools to help control this pandemic. Large-scale clinical studies have found that COVID-19 vaccines prevent most people from developing COVID-19, but like most other vaccines, they’re not 100 percent effective. This means that some fully vaccinated people will continue to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. These people may or may not develop symptoms of COVID-19. “

Clark County Public Health has been showing hospital admissions by vaccination status since March 2021. Hospital admissions for COVID-19 have declined from their August peak.  Omicron's hospital admissions fell in December.  Graphic courtesy of Clark County Public HealthClark County Public Health has been showing hospital admissions by vaccination status since March 2021. Hospital admissions for COVID-19 have declined from their August peak. Omicron’s hospital admissions fell in December. Graphic courtesy of Clark County Public Health

According to the CCPH, 12 percent of hospital beds are currently occupied by patients with COVID-19. Almost 25 percent of the beds in intensive care units are occupied by patients with the virus.

Several resources are available here in Clark County to help out citizens who have tested positive for COVID-19. Earlytreatment.com provides citizens with information about the virus and treatments. Clarkcovidhelp.com also provides information.