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The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, exhibits greater resistance to antibodies and higher transmissibility than other variants, raising concerns that people who have been vaccinated might be vulnerable to breakthrough infections and subsequent complications. Findings from a recent study indicate that people are vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to develop long-term complications following breakthrough infections.

COVID-19 is an acute illness caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although most people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks of presenting with symptoms, some experience long-term complications that affect multiple organs, including the heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain.

The prospective, case-control study drew on self-reported data from more than 1 million United Kingdom-based adult users of the COVID Symptom Study mobile phone app. Participants had received at least one dose of the two-dose AstraZeneca, Moderna, or Pfizer vaccines during an eight-month period between December 2020 and July 2021. The authors of the study matched vaccinated persons who tested positive for COVID-19 (cases) with vaccinated persons who tested negative for COVID-19 (controls). They also included data from unvaccinated persons.

Of the 1.2 million people who had received only one dose, approximately 0.5 percent reported a breakthrough infection. Of the nearly 1 million people who had received both doses, approximately 0.2 percent reported a breakthrough infection. Those who experienced breakthrough infections were 49 percent less likely to experience long-term complications, were less likely to be hospitalized, and were more likely to have few or no symptoms than unvaccinated persons. People who lived in low-income areas or had obesity were more likely to experience breakthrough infections after receiving only one dose.

These findings suggest that vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the risk of long-term complications following breakthrough infections by half. They underscore the importance of continued efforts to vaccinate eligible persons, especially those who are more likely to experience long-term complications, such as those who live in low-income areas or who have obesity. Learn more about the long-term complications of COVID-19 in this clip featuring Dr. Roger Seheult.

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