COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Weekly Update

COVID-19 vaccines are effective. However, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it. These are called “vaccine breakthrough cases.” We are tracking vaccine breakthrough cases in Minnesota and monitoring trends.

Vaccination can make illness less severe in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. Fully vaccinated people are also much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated.

Background & Case Definition

A vaccine breakthrough infection is detection of SARS CoV-2 in a Minnesota patient sample that was collected 14 or more days after they have completed all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. These cases have not had a previous positive COVID-19 result.

COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases are identified by actively matching Minnesota case records with Minnesota vaccination records. MDH also takes and follows up on reports from health care providers, long term care, and corrections.

All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Case and vaccine totals reflect only the results from laboratory testing and vaccinations that have been reported.

Case Overview

Updated weekly, on Mondays at 11 a.m.
Updated 9/20/2021.

Total number of fully vaccinated Minnesotans (as of 8/22/21)*	3,115,582

	Number of vaccine breakthrough cases	Percent of fully vaccinated people
Total cases	23,330	0.749%
Total cases hospitalized**	1,268	0.040%
Total deaths***	118	0.004%

*Fully vaccinated means that at least 14 days have passed since a person completed their COVID-19 vaccination series. A complete series can mean 1 or 2 doses of vaccine have been given, depending on the product. The number of fully vaccinated people will not be the same as the number with a complete vaccination series found on COVID-19 Vaccine Data. Case reporting and vaccine reporting have delays in addition to the time it takes to match case data to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection. Case counts will typically reflect cases reported one or more weeks ago.
** Total cases hospitalized includes patients admitted for any reason within 14 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test.
*** Total deaths (also known as total deaths with laboratory testing) are deaths due to COVID-19 with a positive PCR test (confirmed case) or antigen test (probable case) for SARS-CoV-2, and either COVID-19 is listed on the death certificate or clinical history/autopsy findings that provide evidence that the death is related to COVID-19 without an alternative cause (e.g., drowning, homicide, trauma, etc).

COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation and Reporting
CDC information and resources to help public health departments and laboratories investigate and report COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases.