Breakthrough Cases of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Case Series

Abstract

Breakthrough infections after Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations are an expected phenomenon as no vaccine is 100% effective. Healthcare Workers (HCW) are at a higher risk of contracting the infection owing to the exposure at the workplace. This case series describes clinical profile of 27 breakthrough infections after two weeks of second dose of vaccination. Of the total HCWs with the COVID-19 infection during the study period, 21.77% were breakthrough infections. The mean age of these HCWs was 36±12.02 years. The mean interval between the second dose of vaccine and being detected COVID-19 positive was 24.41±7.69 days. Majority of them were doctors (66.67%) and nurses (14.81%). All of them suffered from mild disease and recovered fully. Availability of vaccines coupled with pandemic fatigue has led to false reassurance among population. Hence, COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) before and after vaccination should be followed rigorously to prevent such infections.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease-2019
• pandemic
• postvaccination infection
• vaccination