The COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots have been extremely effective in lowering the coronavirus infection rates all across the globe. “Breakthrough” infections have been occurring much more often than they used to, but this doesn’t mean that vaccinations aren’t doing their job.

Our AFC Urgent Care Easley team provides more helpful info on breakthrough infections and vaccine efficacy below, so keep reading!

What Should I Know About Breakthrough Infections?

A breakthrough infection, according to the CDC, occurs when a person tests positive for COVID-19 at least two weeks after being fully vaccinated, including receiving a booster dose when eligible.

Although the CDC has recently stated that breakthrough infections should be expected at this point, this doesn’t mean that COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots don’t work. The main goal of vaccines and boosters is to prevent serious illness and hospitalization, which they have been doing. Also, omicron is still the dominant form of COVID-19 right now, and its symptoms differ from prior variations in a few ways, which we’ve described below.

Common Omicron Symptoms

• Cough
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Congestion and runny nose
• Sore throat
• Headache

What Can Be Done to Prevent Infection?

Vaccines and booster doses remain the best, most effective protection against COVID-19. Although the omicron variant can evade initial vaccines more easily the previous variants, booster dosages have been proven to be 90% efficient in avoiding omicron hospitalizations in recent CDC trials.

Other health practices, which we’ve included below, can substantially reduce your chances of testing positive for omicron.

Ways to Prevent Infection

• Wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. These offer the highest level of protection, according to the CDC.
• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often. Make sure to wash for at least 20 seconds each time to properly rid of lingering bacterial and viral particles.
• Be smart with where you go and the events you attend. Even though physical distancing is still recommended by the CDC, not many adhere to it anymore. If you are immunocompromised, live with someone who is at high risk of becoming seriously ill or you have young children at home, you may want to be more cautious and keep your distance in public.

We hope you feel healthy and well as we enter spring! If you feel under the weather, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Easley center today to get the care you need to feel better.