While COVID-19 has been reported to be less severe in vaccinated patients, breakthrough infections are not benign, suggests a large study. 

Investigators assessed data aggregated by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration from 16,035 survivors of breakthrough infections, 48,536 unvaccinated COVID survivors and around 3.6 million uninfected individuals. At six months following the infection, after accounting for the risk factors, individuals who had breakthrough infections were found to have lower rates of death and long-term health problems compared to unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. 

However, in comparison with people who never had COVID-19, those with breakthrough infections were shown to have a 53% increased risk of death and a 59% higher risk of having at least one new health problem, especially those affecting the lungs and other organs. 

Despite the fact that breakthrough infections did not need hospital admission, the increased risks of death and long-term effects were not insignificant, noted the investigators. They concluded that breakthrough COVID-19 will lead to a considerable overall burden of death and disease… (Reuters, November 20, 2021)