About a quarter of coronavirus infections among Los Angeles County residents occurred in fully vaccinated residents from May through July 25, a period that includes the impact of the highly transmissible Delta variant, US officials say.
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The data, published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly report on death and disease, shows an increase in so-called "breakthrough" infections among fully vaccinated individuals.
The CDC is relying on data from cohorts, such as the Los Angeles County study, to determine whether Americans need a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines to increase protection.
Government scientists last week laid out a strategy for booster doses beginning on September 20, pending reviews from the US Food and Drug Administration and the CDC.
The data released on Tuesday involved more than 43,000 reported infections among Los Angeles County residents aged 16 and older. Of them, 10,895, or 25.3 per cent, occurred in fully vaccinated persons, 1431, or 3.3 per cent, were in partially vaccinated people, and 30,801, or 71.4 per cent, were in unvaccinated individuals.
The vaccines did, however, protect individuals from more severe cases. According to the study, 3.2 per cent of fully vaccinated individuals who were infected with the virus were hospitalised, just 0.05 per cent were admitted to an intensive care unit and 0.25 per cent were placed on a ventilator.
Among the unvaccinated who fell ill, 7.5 per cent were hospitalised, 1.5 per cent were admitted to an intensive care unit and 0.5 per cent required breathing support with a mechanical ventilator.
Australian Associated Press
