2% of Oregons COVID-19 infections are breakthrough cases in vaccinated people – OregonLive

Officials reported Thursday that about 2% of the people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Oregon in May were completely vaccinated -- meaning an overwhelming 98% of those sickened by the coronavirus either were unvaccinated or were only partially vaccinated.

A total of 398 Oregonians whod received their full recommended courses of vaccines were infected with the virus from May 3 to May 31, the Oregon Health Authority announced Thursday, in its monthly report. Officials identified them as breakthrough cases. Twelve of them died, according to rough numbers provided by the state.

That compares to about 15,700 Oregonians who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated when they were infected in May. Approximately 115 of them died, according to rough figures provided by the state.

Officials say about 91% of people whove died in Oregon from COVID-19 werent vaccinated or were partially vaccinated. Although the vaccines arent 100% effective even in fully vaccinated individuals, officials say they are highly successful at preventing infection and dramatically decreasing the chances of hospitalization or death.

In all, officials have identified 1,009 breakthrough cases and 20 deaths among these Oregonians since the state started tracking this data in February.

The average age of a person who was infected after completing their recommended doses of vaccine was 51. The average age of those who died was 75, officials said.

But Oregon officials caution that some of the people counted as breakthrough cases were counted as such even though enough time hadnt passed for the vaccines to reach their maximum effectiveness.

People arent considered fully vaccinated until at least 14 days have passed since finishing their one-dose courses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two-dose courses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has defined a breakthrough case as someone who tests positive after 14 or more days have passed since receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or receiving their second shots of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

That means a person could have been exposed and infected before the vaccines had time to provide maximum protection.

In other COVID-19 news Thursday: Oregon reported 267 new known cases of COVID-19, dropping the seven-day rolling average of new infections to below 300 for the first time since the beginning of spring break in March.

The state on Thursday also reported seven new COVID-19 deaths.

Vaccines: Oregon reported 20,401 new vaccinations administered, including 8,812 doses on Wednesday and 11,589 on previous days.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (2), Benton (1), Clackamas (18), Columbia (3), Coos (1), Crook (3), Curry (1), Deschutes (19), Douglas (36), Gilliam (7), Hood River (2), Jackson (19), Josephine (3), Klamath (2), Lane (21), Linn (15), Malheur (6), Marion (25), Multnomah (48), Polk (1), Sherman (1), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (15), Union (4), Wasco (1), Washington (9) and Yamhill (2).

Who died: A 76-year-old Lane County man who tested positive April 24 died May 27 at his residence.

A 57-year-old Coos County woman who tested positive April 28 died Wednesday at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

A 70-year-old Marion County woman tested positive on May 13 and died Tuesday at Salem Hospital.

An 87-year-old Multnomah County man tested positive on April 9 and died May 2 at his residence.

A 70-year-old Polk County man who tested positive May 18 died Wednesday at Salem Hospital. He had no underlying conditions.

A 70-year-old Polk County man who tested positive April 14 died Tuesday at Salem Hospital.

A 61-year-old Washington County man tested positive March 22 and died May 18 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

Six of these seven people had underlying medical conditions.

Hospitalizations: The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 increased by 1 Thursday, to 228. There were 63 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, a decrease of two from the previous day.

Since it began: The state has reported 202,247 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,683 deaths during the pandemic. That places Oregon at the third lowest rate of infections and fifth lowest rate of deaths among the 50 states. For the past week, however, Oregon has continued to struggle with higher than average numbers, ranking seventh highest in new cases per capita and 16th highest in deaths per capita.

So far, Oregon has reported 3,996,364 vaccine doses administered. Thats 1,877,344 people -- or nearly 45% -- fully vaccinated and 377,930 people -- or nearly 9% -- partially vaccinated across all age groups, including children. That adds up to more than 53% of residents whove received at least one shot.

To see more data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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2% of Oregons COVID-19 infections are breakthrough cases in vaccinated people - OregonLive