MA Breakthrough Deaths Hit 100, Remain (Very) Rare

BOSTON, MA — The number of Massachusetts residents who died from the coronavirus after being vaccinated against the disease hit 100 at the end of July, the Department of Public Health said.

But the likelihood of death from breakthrough cases remains exceedingly rare, representing about 0.002 percent of fully vaccinated people in the state, according to health officials.

About three-quarters of patients reported having underlying medical conditions, and the median age of those who died was 82.5.

"Breakthrough cases in Massachusetts are incredibly low, and those hospitalized or who have died are even lower," the DPH said in a statement. "All available data continue to support that all three vaccines used in the US are highly protective against severe disease and death from all known variants of COVID-19."

There have been 395 hospitalizations attributed to breakthrough cases in Massachusetts.