Everything You Need To Know About Breakthrough COVID Infections

A breakthrough COVID-19 infection is when a fully vaccinated person contracts SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus. As the number of vaccinated people increases, more people will have a breakthrough infection. This article covers COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and when to be concerned about a breakthrough infection.

What Is a Breakthrough Infection?

The COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness and death, but they are not 100% effective at preventing infection. No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing disease.

When a fully vaccinated person contracts SARS-CoV-2 at least two weeks after completing vaccination, it is considered a breakthrough infection.

Fully vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection are less likely to develop severe disease, be hospitalized, or die from COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated people. However, fully vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection can still pass the virus to someone else.

Breakthrough COVID-19 infections are uncommon. Estimates are not accurate at this time and range from 1 in 100 people to 1 in 5,000 people that might develop a breakthrough infection. It is difficult to truly track the number of breakthrough cases because people with mild symptoms are less likely to seek testing or see a healthcare provider.

State health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and global organizations are still evaluating the data to determine how often breakthrough infections occur. However, they are confident that unvaccinated people are 5.8 times more likely to contract SARS-CoV-2 and test positive for the virus than unvaccinated people.

If You're Vaccinated, What Warrants a COVID-19 Test?

The symptoms associated with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection are the same in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, but they are less severe in people who are vaccinated. COVID-19 can cause:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Loss of smell

However, a global study that ranked the most likely symptoms of a breakthrough infection reported that people commonly have headaches, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and loss of smell. Notably, in the analysis, people who developed symptoms associated with a breakthrough infection had milder symptoms and a shorter duration of illness.

According to the CDC, people who have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested for infection. Fully vaccinated people should obtain testing five to seven days after the exposure. However, for symptomatic people, the CDC recommends testing regardless of vaccination status.

Best Testing Options for a Breakthrough Case

Several testing options are available, and the possibilities are the same whether a person is vaccinated or unvaccinated.

There are three COVID-19 tests to understand: rapid antigen, molecular nucleic acid (also called PCR or RT-PCR), and antibody tests.

The rapid antigen and molecular PCR tests determine whether someone has an active COVID-19 infection.

Antibody tests are different in that they detect whether a person has been previously infected with, exposed to, or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Antibody tests should not be used to determine whether a person has an active infection and are not helpful in people who have been vaccinated.

There are several factors to consider when deciding which test to obtain. These include:

• Ability to visit a hospital or clinic versus needing an at-home test
• Time to results
• Cost
• Diagnostic accuracy

Rapid antigen tests are more widely available than other tests. They are offered in hospitals and clinics and can be done at home. Molecular PCR tests are considered the gold standard of COVID-19 tests, and they are most often used in hospitals but are also offered in clinics. One molecular PCR test kit is available for home use.

Rapid antigen tests generally provide a result in about 15 to 30 minutes. Molecular PCR test results usually return after one to two days. At-home molecular PCR test kits usually require a person to send a specimen to a laboratory.

Rapid antigen tests are cheaper than PCR tests; however, they do not have the best diagnostic accuracy.

Factors That Affect Accuracy

Several factors affect COVID-19 testing accuracy, including:

• Whether a person has symptoms
• Time from exposure or symptom onset
  
• Sample collection method

The amount of virus in a person's system can affect test results. Testing for COVID-19 when a person does not have symptoms increases the possibility of a false-negative result. Researchers report COVID-19 test accuracy in a person with symptoms at approximately 80%, whereas the tests are about 55% accurate in people who do not have symptoms.

Testing too early after exposure can also give a person a false-negative result. In one study, there was a 67% chance of patients receiving a false-negative result if they tested within four days of contracting the virus. If a person waited to test on the day of symptom onset (usually four days after becoming infected), the probability of receiving a false-negative result dropped to 38%.

The researchers explained that testing was most accurate when performed three to four days after symptom onset, but even then, the probability of receiving a false-negative result was 20%.

Finally, the way that a sample is collected can also affect test accuracy. Many people find the nasopharyngeal swab uncomfortable, but, when done correctly, it's the most accurate way to collect a COVID testing sample.

Saliva tests have become more widely available, but the accuracy varies widely because of how the sample is collected. However, researchers have been improving these testing kits and even though they are not quite as accurate as other kits, they still provide better access to testing for those who need it.

Breakthrough COVID-19 and Virus Variants

Several different SARS-CoV-2 variants have spread across the United States, which are being monitored by the CDC.

The Delta variant is currently the most prominent and most concerning since it is more contagious, which means it is also more likely to lead to a breakthrough infection. The Omicron variant is currently undergoing further investigation to determine how mutations affect the likelihood of severe infection.

The FDA-approved antigen and molecular PCR tests detect these variants, including the Delta variant. The Omicron variant is being studied further, but we know that molecular PCR tests detect this new variant.

Additionally, the FDA-authorized vaccines still offer protection against variants, including the Delta variant. Further research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of vaccines against the new Omicron variant, but it is likely that the vaccines offer some protection against severe COVID-19 and death.

How Long Does It Take to Build Immunity After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine?

It can take about two weeks to develop immunity to SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination.

The CDC reports that the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines in people with normal immune systems is 90%. However, people with weakened immune systems might not develop the protection they need against severe COVID-19. The CDC reports that the vaccines are 77% effective in these people.

In addition to certain diseases that lead to decreased immunity, people over age 65 are more likely to have weak immune systems. They may not develop an appropriate immune response to vaccination.

Thus far, reports show that people with weakened immune systems or people over the age of 50 have made up almost 50% of hospitalized breakthrough infections in the U.S. This helps to explain why some older people with breakthrough infections still develop severe disease or death.

Vaccinated people with weak immune systems should continue to practice social distancing and wear masks indoors and in close quarters.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.