FDA: Only 516 breakthrough infections among 20M fully vaccinated

PROOF OF VACCINATION Two women take selfies as they get their inoculation at a Taguig City school on Sept. 10. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recorded only 516 breakthrough infections out of 20.3 million fully vaccinated individuals, 90 percent of which came from those aged 18 to 39.

Of the 516 breakthrough infection cases, 14 have died. FDA data as of September 26 showed that all those who died were senior citizens except for one case.

Breakthrough infections are COVID-19 cases detected more than 14 days after the last recommended dose of a vaccine. FDA Director General Eric Domingo noted that the breakthrough cases reported are only 0.0025 percent of over 20 million fully vaccinated.

“We broke it down into age groups. Ninety percent of the breakthrough infections are actually in the age 18 to 39, ‘yung mga bata. These are people who are really mobile, ‘yung mga lumalabas sa bahay, nagtatrabaho, may contact sa ibang tao at sila talaga ang naiinfect,” he told a media briefing.

(We broke it down into age groups. Ninety percent of breakthrough infections are from those aged 18 to 39. These people are really mobile, the ones who go out of their homes to work or have physical contact with other people.)

However, Domingo noted that individuals 18 to 39 who had breakthrough infections have recovered from the disease.

He reminded those in the said age group to be careful especially when they go out, even if they have already been vaccinated.

“Importante pa rin para sa ating young people 18 to 39 to be careful when you go out. You have to wear your mask, maintain physical distancing, huwag pupunta sa crowded areas kasi kayo ang nagkakasakit at nag-uuwi sa bahay ng COVID-19,” he said.

(It is still important for people aged 18 to 39 to be careful when you go out. You have to wear your mask, maintain physical distance, and avoid crowded areas because you are the ones bringing COVID-19 to your homes.)

He noted that while those in the younger population are expected to recover from the disease, those vulnerable in their household whom they may infect may have the severe form of the disease.

According to FDA data, 327 breakthrough infections were recorded out of 10 million fully vaccinated with Sinovac. Eight of them have died. Meanwhile, 125 breakthrough infections, including one death, were recorded out of 2.5 million fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Thirty-five cases, including five deaths, were recorded out of those 3.5 million inoculated with Janssen.

Meanwhile, 28 breakthrough infections were recorded out of 1.9 million fully inoculated with Pfizer, and only one case was recorded out of over 19,000 fully vaccinated with Sputnik V.

Domingo noted that the number of breakthrough infections was also in proportion to the number of actual vaccine shots administered per brand.

“Yung breakthrough infections, reflective din on the proportion of vaccines…. Nakikita naman natin na pareho. Hindi naman overwhelming na sa one brand nakikita ang breakthrough infections. Pare-pareho, proportional sa lahat ng brands natin,” he said, adding that it is expected for Sinovac to have the highest number of breakthrough infections since it is the most used vaccine in the country.

(Breakthrough infections are reflective of the proportion of vaccine brands that were used… There is no overwhelming number of deaths for a single brand. It’s all the same and proportional across all brands.)

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