Breakthroughs Again

This post is an update to a previous post. The CDC extended the database of breakthrough cases and deaths so that it now extends from 2021_04_04 to 2021_12_12. In addition, CDC altered the format of the MMWR.week column. MMWR.week is an epidemiological date format that can be used to produce dates in R's date format. Updated code is available on GitHub.

Since it now includes the beginning of the omicron phase of the pandemic, I thought it might be time to take another look. I downloaded the breakthrough data from the CDC on 2022-02-04. 

First, cases and deaths for vaccinated patients vs. non-vaccinated patients.

Compare these with the previous plots. Notice the increase in cases in the later months of the plot. Fortunately, the increase in deaths is not so dramatic. Presumably, this is because it seems that omicron, more transmissible but seemingly less virulent, is replacing the delta strain in the population. Also, notice that being vaccinated provides protection against death even though there is an increase in cases among the vaccinated population.

We see similar results when we break down the two populations by age groups.

Again, vaccination provided strong protection against death in all age groups, despite an increase in cases for both populations. As has been seen throughout the pnademic, individuals in the 65+ age groups are most vulnerable.

Conclusions: Get vaccinated!

Data can be obtained here. Code can be found on GitHub.