Small percentage of Coloradans vaccinated for COVID-19 test positive for virus
DENVER (KRDO) — New data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows a small percentage of Coloradans fully vaccinated for COVID-19 continue to test positive, be hospitalized, or die from the coronavirus.
On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis touted that COVID-19 vaccines are at least 95% effective in preventing infection.
“When you’re vaccinated, you’re much more likely to have a mild or asymptomatic case,” said Gov. Polis.
13 Investigates uncovered the exact numbers in Colorado.
According to the state health department, since people became eligible for vaccination in mid-January, 2,064 people vaccinated for the virus have tested positive. The state refers to these as breakthrough cases. Breakthrough cases account for about 1.4% of all reported COVID-19 cases in Colorado for that time period.
The state reports 136 hospitalizations among breakthrough cases. That amounts to 1.5% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Colorado since mid-January. However, CDPHE says the number only shows how many breakthrough cases were hospitalized. They may have been hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19.
Finally, 24 deaths among breakthrough cases have been reported in the state since people starting getting vaccinated. Once again, the state specifies these are deaths within breakthrough cases, but not necessarily due to COVID-19. In total, 951 deaths due to COVID-19 are reported throughout the state this year.
