Incidence and outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in vaccinated healthcare workers: a prospective cohort study
A prospective cohort study published in BMC Infectious Diseases investigated the incidence and outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) in Israel. The study followed 1,497 vaccinated HCWs for a median of 61 days and found 39 cases of breakthrough COVID-19 infections, resulting in an incidence rate of 2.6%. The majority of breakthrough infections were mild or asymptomatic, with only three cases requiring hospitalization. None of the breakthrough cases resulted in severe disease or death. The study suggests that vaccination of HCWs provides significant protection against severe COVID-19 disease, but breakthrough infections are still possible. These findings emphasize the importance of continued monitoring of breakthrough infections in vaccinated populations and support the need for booster doses.