Fully Vaccinated Breakthrough COVID Infection——-My Experience

Last Saturday I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Headache, body aches, fever and dry unproductive cough. Combination of a bad summer cold and the flu, but no GI issues and I had normal taste and smell and a good appetite. So I ramped up my already strong supplement regimen and OTC pain relievers. Sunday and Monday, no worse, but no better.

So I called my PCP and she set up a time in their isolation unit for me to meet her and get tested. Got the swab and within minutes was delivered the COVID positive results. She gave me a thorough exam and found my temperature was OK, blood oxygen at 98%, BP ok, and very clear sounding lungs. All positives. She refined my drug regimen and requires me to check in with her three times a day with temp, BP and blood oxygen level. I have a virtual follow up with her on Friday.

She was very thorough in tracking the 10 days before my symptoms. My wife and I are fully vaccinated, distance, mask appropriately and have not resumed any semblance of what was normal life. However, last Wednesday we attended an outdoor gravesite memorial service for her departed aunt. A total of 12 people attended, all vaccinated and masked. We were together for about an hour and a half. The aunt passed away a year ago at age 101 with COVID. The memorial was delayed due to the virus and to allow potential family attendees time to vaccinate. My doc suspects that was the infection opportunity.

This morning I actually feel better than yesterday morning and am coughing a bit less. This is hump day, day 5 of the 10 critical days. She warned that things can get better and then get worse, so she stays on top of it and I have clear metrics that will indicate when to call her or head to the emergency room. Thankfully my wife is not showing symptoms.

Of course, I am thankful for the vaccination and the near certainty that I won’t get significantly worse. We have known from the start that the vaccines do not prevent infection or transmission, but greatly reduce severe disease. A month ago I was on a Zoom conference with a leading CDC virologist presenting the current state of COVID and the Delta variant. He stressed to vaccinate and live responsibly, explained the virus is here to stay and won’t be eliminated by the vaccines, and will continue to mutate indefinitely. He closed by saying “there are two types of people….those that have had the virus….and those that will get the virus”.

Your experience is a cautionary tale ---- and you were being cautious!

I hope you rebound quickly!

A few of us here have now gotten booster shots in recent days.

My decision to do so was based on a direct recommendation from Dr. Kwon at Mayo Clinic.

As a teacher --- I look forward to the day when ELEMENTARY students finally qualify for the vaccine.

Iowa's largest school district --- Des Moines --- just reported 45 of their staff members just got diagnosed with corona.

There simply aren't enough substitutes these days to cover the daily absences that schools are facing. It's a dire situation that isn't being illuminated by the news ...

I lost a work colleague at my school, who contracted corona virus. He was my age.

Care centers and hospitals are becoming short-staffed, as well ...

Another work colleague and his wife just got breakthrough corona this past week, as you did. Both were fully vaccinated. He's now recovering at home, just as you are.

His doctor said to keep resting at home ... and then stated area hospitals are reaching patient capacity.

Hopefully, since you were vaccinated, you will recover quicker.

Please take good care of yourself!

Let us know how you are faring --- and rest assured, recovery thoughts are being sent your way!

Rest, recover, rejuvenate ~~~
CYCLONE --- # Iowa State University

Post Edited (Cyclone-ISU) : 9/1/2021 5:58:10 AM (GMT-6)

Jack, glad you seem to be improving. Very scary reading your experience, particularly in light of how careful you’ve been. Here’s wishing you a full and quick recovery.

Your story also gives me great pause, as I have a wedding mid October, that I really feel I need to attend.250 people. Indoors. Invitation says please be vaccinated or test shortly before the event, to attend. But I’ve learned not to trust the honor system, besides which the testing option doesn’t help my peace of mind much. I’ll be wearing a mask the entire time.

Be well.

Jack, sorry to hear about you getting the virus hopefully you will recover quickly and not have any of the long haul symptoms! Thanks for sharing with us makes us realize we can never be too cautious.

Larry

<< To those of you coming down hard on healthy people for not getting the vaccine, take note of the words of the leading CDC virologist.

The vaccines dramatically lower your chance of severe disease but do not prevent you from becoming infected or transmitting the disease. >>

Stephen, I hope these "healthy people" have the courtesy not to clog up the hospitals if they become deathly ill with COVID-19. 😉

Jack, sorry to hear about your experience and I'm glad you are on the road to recovery. Let us know how you're doing as you bounce back. As you pointed out, it's a really good thing you were vaccinated. If not you could be in the hospital, on a ventilator or worse. I'm not totally sure about your doc's closing characterization but he may be right if vaccination rates don't dramatically improve.

Jim

Thank you for sharing. Your PCP sounds awesome. Best of luck!

The other striking thing about your experience is the fact that you had a test result within minutes! Think about that. A year ago you were considered lucky to get test results in two days. 18 months ago even getting a test at all was an issue.

Stephen:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
To those of you coming down hard on healthy people for not getting the vaccine, take note of the words of the leading CDC virologist.

The vaccines dramatically lower your chance of severe disease but do not prevent you from becoming infected or transmitting the disease.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I am one of those "coming down hard on healthy people for not getting the vaccine."

So, what am I supposed to note. Hmmmm...like...uh...it prevents deaths/hospitalizations from severe disease? Yep.

So, what am I supposed to note?

Even worse: those who refuse to wear masks/social distance. They are a threat to all of us -- especially our unvaccinated children -- as this behavior (wearing masks and keeping social distance) DOES " prevent you from becoming infected or transmitting the disease"

Mel

Jack,
Sorry to hear about your breakthrough case even in spite of your thorough precautions.

One question. Can you tell me which vaccine you had? I'm curious in light of a news story I read the other day saying the Moderna vaccine produces a higher antibody response than the Pfizer. As it happens my wife has the Moderna jab and I have the Pfizer.

My wife and I resumed wearing masks in indoor public spaces a few weeks ago as Delta emerged. Now after reading your report I'm considering avoiding even masked participation in small outdoor gatherings.

Stephen S said...

compiler said...
Even worse: those who refuse to wear masks/social distance. They are a threat to all of us -- especially our unvaccinated children -- as this behavior (wearing masks and keeping social distance) DOES " prevent you from becoming infected or transmitting the disease

In JNF’s travels he indicated that the presentation he saw from a scientist from the CDC said “there are two types of people….those that have had the virus….and those that will get the virus”.

Mel, think about that for a moment. Inevitably *all* of us will get infected, even our kids and grandkids. Masks or no masks. Vaccine or no vaccine. In some ways that truth sets us free somewhat.

The vaccine mitigates the severity. Thats it.

Masks and distance reduce chances but not to zero.

Age 70 and over, until there is a therapeutic, it’s dangerous.

18 months ago all we had was masks and distancing. Now we have natural immunity, vaccines, monoclonal antibody treatments, and i read a story today about a Phase 2/3 trial Pfizer has started for a therapeutic like Tamiflu you would take at the first symptoms.

We cannot eradicate it.

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That is true, we can not eradicate it. And even if we could, a new variant or a totally new virus would be here shortly.

I just read something truly ironic, considering the high rate of vaccination in Israel, and considering what most people think of Sweden's response to the virus(though I ASSUME their vaccination rate is comparable to most other countries):
https://www.reddit.com/r/autotldr/comments/pgtu3j/sweden_bans_entry_for_travelers_from_us_israel/

This is also of interest:
" The World Health Organization is monitoring a new coronavirus variant called “mu.”
It has mutations that have the potential to evade immunity provided by a previous Covid-19 infection or vaccination, the WHO said.
The new variant was first identified in Colombia but has since been confirmed in at least 39 countries, according to the agency."
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/01/who-says-it-is-monitoring-a-new-covid-variant-called-mu.html

Post Edited (BillyBob@388) : 9/2/2021 7:13:02 PM (GMT-6)

Stephen S said...

The vaccine mitigates the severity. Thats it.

Actually that is incorrect. Early immunity after two shots is highly effective against getting the disease at all. And of course VERY highly effective in preventing severe cases. That immunity wanes over time but getting a third shot restores the high odds of not contracting COVID period.

Jim

PDL17 said...
Jim,

I do not think it has been proven whether the booster prevents us from getting the infection. Two of the leading scientists from the FDA resigned because of pressures from the CDC and the White House to approve the booster vaccine when the studies have not been adequately done. Do not attack me for stating this fact (it appears differences of opinion are no longer respected on this site). I am a strong advocate of the vaccine. However, no one knows, yet, whether the booster is safe and effective in actual patients. The booster increases antibody response but has not been studied adequately to reach conclusions. As important, no one knows whether booster injections are safe. One might say, they anecdotally seem to be. Everyone says, follow the science, but few truly do.

Paul

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Thanks, Paul, for stating those fact. That is what is needed: facts and data.
Bill