Q: Can you explain breakthrough infections. If you’re going to get COVID anyway, why get the vaccine?
Breakthrough infections are when an already vaccinated person gets infected. This is expected to occur with any vaccination program since no vaccine is 100% effective at preventing infection. Most of these cases are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms only, and are rarely sick enough to need hospitalization. So it is still valuable to receive the vaccine to prevent severe illness and death. We are continuing to learn more about who may be at higher risk of experiencing a breakthrough infection.
Response by Richard Hart, MD, MPH, President and CEO, Loma Linda University