Can breakthrough COVID-19 infections be transmitted to others?

Until recently, scientists were unsure whether fully vaccinated people who became infected with COVID-19 could transmit it to others. But the CDC report released in late July made it clear that some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection—and may be contagious.

What does a breakthrough COVID-19 infection mean?

There's a small chance you could catch the coronavirus after you get the vaccine. You might hear this called “breakthrough COVID-19.” Some people who get a breakthrough infection have no symptoms and don't get sick. But a small percentage get ill, go to the hospital, or die from COVID-19.

Can COVID-19 breakthrough infections also be transmitted through vaccinated individuals?

They found that a large portion of those infected in these clusters had been fully vaccinated. Furthermore, the viral loads were similar between those vaccinated and unvaccinated, suggesting that vaccinated individuals who develop breakthrough infections are very capable of transmitting the infection to others.

Can you still get COVID-19 if you're fully vaccinated?

You can get COVID-19 even if you're fully vaccinated Yes, this is true. That's because none of the vaccines will prevent 100% of COVID-19 cases. When a fully vaccinated person tests positive for COVID-19, it's called a breakthrough infection. But getting vaccinated is still worth it.

How does the CDC define breakthrough COVID-19 infections?

Breakthrough infections were defined as new cases among persons who were fully vaccinated on the day of specimen collection. Hospitalizations among persons with breakthrough infection were defined as new hospital admissions among persons fully vaccinated on the reporting day.

Breakthrough covid infections: What you can do to stay safe

Can you get reinfected with COVID-19?

Reinfections can and have happened even shortly after recovery, the researchers said. And they will become increasingly common as immunity wanes and new SARS-CoV-2 variants arise.

Are symptoms different for breakthrough COVID-19?

The symptoms of breakthrough COVID-19 are similar to COVID-19 symptoms in unvaccinated people, but are generally milder. You may not notice any symptoms at all. If you are fully vaccinated and develop a fever, feel ill, or experience any symptom that is not typical for you, getting a COVID-19 test may be a good idea.

Why do some people still get COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated?

Because vaccines are not 100% effective, as the number of people who are fully vaccinated goes up, the number of vaccine breakthrough infections will also increase. However, the risk of infection remains much higher for unvaccinated than vaccinated people.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine boost your immune system?

Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.

Will a person with COVID-19 vaccine have a positive antibody test?

A COVID-19 vaccination may also cause a positive antibody test result for some but not all antibody tests. You should not interpret the results of your SARS-CoV-2 antibody test as an indication of a specific level of immunity or protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Can vaccinated people socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Fully vaccinated people can visit privately with other fully vaccinated individuals indoors and without a mask or physical distancing.

Fully vaccinated people can visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at a low risk for severe COVID-19 disease, indoors and without a mask or physical distancing.

Can you be asymptomatic with COVID-19 infection if you have previously been vaccinated for COVID-19?

Indeed, it is possible that vaccinated people who get infected may easily remain asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms and thus go unnoticed.

What are some of the symptoms of the Omicron COVID-19 variant?

All of the variants, including delta and omicron, cause similar COVID-19 symptoms, including cough, fever and fatigue. There is some evidence that fewer people with omicron lose their taste and smell.

How long does it take to develop immunity after a COVID-19 infection?

Although the immune correlates of protection are not fully understood, evidence indicates that antibody development following infection likely confers some degree of immunity from subsequent infection for at least 6 months.

How long are you contagious after being sick with COVID-19?

Most people with COVID-19 are no longer contagious 5 days after they first have symptoms and have been fever-free for at least three days.

What exactly does the COVID-19 vaccine do to the body?

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.

Does your immune system get stronger after COVID-19?

Any time you catch a virus and recover from the illness, you retain antibodies. These antibodies help your body fight off future infections so that you either don't get sick or have milder symptoms.

How long does it take for immunity to wane after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

A study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that immunity against severe COVID-19 begins to wane four months after receiving a so-called "booster" third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

How long can post COVID-19 symptoms last?

COVID-19 recovery. Post-COVID-19 symptoms, such as lingering cough, on and off fever, weakness, and changes to your senses of smell or taste, can persist for weeks or even months after you recover from acute illness. Persistent symptoms are sometimes known as long COVID-19.

Can COVID-19 symptoms get worse as it goes along?

COVID-19 can cause symptoms that are mild at first, but then become more intense over five to seven days, with worsening cough and shortness of breath.

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you already had COVID-19 and recovered?

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine? You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system.

Can you be infected with multiple COVID-19 variants at once?

The bottom line It's possible to get sick with more than one COVID-19 variant at the same time. But it's not clear if dual infection is more serious than being sick with only one variant.

Can the Omicron variant cause long term COVID-19 symptoms?

The possibility of long COVID. While omicron may cause less severe symptoms, this may not mean a decreased risk of long-term sickness.

Should I be worried about getting the COVID-19 Omicron variant?

While some have suggested that most people will eventually get the coronavirus, you should do your best to avoid infection with Omicron—there is no justification for deliberately getting infected so you have what you think will be a mild illness that will provide you with more immunity going forward, the doctors say.

Is lower back pain associated with the omicron COVID-19 variant?

A report from South Africa's largest health insurer found that a sore throat, congestion, dry cough and lower back pain ranked among the most common early omicron symptoms.