Omicron Spurs 43% Increase In COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthroughs

OLYMPIA, WA — Early concerns that the omicron strain may be more vaccine resilient appear to have been well-founded. The Washington state Department of Health on Thursday confirmed that, as the omicron variant has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the state, vaccine breakthrough cases have risen by 43 percent.

Vaccine breakthrough cases are cases where a patient is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but still catches a coronavirus infection. Breakthrough cases are typically less severe than normal infections: Of the 123,365 vaccine breakthrough cases Washington saw before Jan. 1, around 3 percent required hospitalization.

“Even though the Omicron variant has an increased ability to evade immunity from vaccination, vaccines and boosters will lower the risk that an infection could land you in the hospital,” said Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, Chief Science Officer. “That’s why to avoid worsening the strain on our hospitals, everyone should use a high quality well-fitting mask, don’t use the emergency department unless it’s a true emergency, and most important get vaccinated and boosted as soon as you are eligible.”

The DOH stresses that, though vaccine breakthroughs have risen significantly, they still represent just a small fraction — roughly 2.5 percent — of Washington's vaccinated population. As such, doctors continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots as the most effective coronavirus deterrant.

“If you are already vaccinated, getting a booster dose of vaccine is the best way to decrease your chance of getting a breakthrough infection,” Kwan-Gett said. “Even without a booster dose, those who are vaccinated are less likely to become very ill and need hospitalization, and a booster dose decreases the risk even more.”

The Washington State Department of Health provides weekly reports on COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases and COVID-19 variant data, the latest of which found that omicron made up nearly 90 percent of Washington's sequenced COVID-19 cases by the end of December.

Early studies show the omicron variant, while more-transmissible than previous coronavirus variants, likely causes less severe symptoms. That dulls the impact of the latest surge somewhat, but the sheer number of new COVID-19 cases continues to cause problems: Hospitals remain at risk of overflowing, and several medical associations have called on Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of crisis. Demand for COVID-19 testing has also surged through the roof, with many testing sites now experiencing multiple hour wait times— if they're not closing outright because of overcrowding safety concerns. The state has ordered several million more take home COVID-19 tests in an effort to remedy the issue, which Washingtonians will be able to order online later this month.

In the meantime, state health leaders continue to urge residents to follow COVID-19 safety protocol like wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and avoiding large crowds.