Introduction


November 23, 2021

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is actively monitoring COVID-19 breakthrough cases (cases occurring among fully vaccinated persons) that occur in our state. This report displays data on the breakthrough cases reported to DPH. Cases may be reported through multiple sources including electronic lab reporting (ELR), entered directly into the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS), faxed case reports, and calls from providers to DPH.

Definitions and Methods

  • COVID-19 breakthrough case definition:

    • A Georgia resident meeting the below criteria:

    • SARS-CoV-2 RNA (PCR) or antigen detected from a respiratory specimen AND

    • Specimen collected ≥ 14 days after completing the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., completed two doses in a two-dose series OR one dose in a one-dose series) AND

    • No positive COVID-19 positive laboratory test (RNA [PCR] or antigen positive) within the 90 days prior to the current positive test

  • Fully Vaccinated: The number of Georgia residents who completed the primary series of an FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine was obtained from the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS)

  • Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated: The number of Georgia residents who did not complete the primary series was obtained by subtracting the number of fully vaccinated from the 2020 Georgia population

  • Deaths: A COVID-19-associated death is one where COVID-19 was the cause of death or a significant contributor to death. Evidence of COVID-19 as the cause of death or significant contributor to death is determined though review of medical records, family interviews, and/or vital records.

  • Hospitalized: Hospitalized individuals are those who were hospitalized for any reason and tested positive for COVID-19. They were not necessarily hospitalized due to COVID-19.

  • Incidence Rate Estimates: Weekly incidence rates by vaccination status were calculated as the number of cases or deaths divided by the number of people either fully vaccinated (cumulative) or unvaccinated/partially vaccinated (obtained by subtracting the number of fully vaccinated from the 2020 Georgia population) and multiplied by 100,000. Rates are not adjusted for time since vaccination, underlying conditions, or other demographic factors. All rates are plotted by positive specimen collection date to reflect when incident infections occurred.

  • Increased risk of infection or death among individuals who are unvaccinated/partially vaccinated: risk among unvaccinated/partially vaccinated divided by the risk among fully vaccinated individuals

  • Monthly risk of infection or death: weekly average number of cases or deaths among unvaccinated/partially and fully vaccinated individuals, divided by number of unvaccinated/partially and fully vaccinated individuals that week.

Summary

Total COVID-19 breakthrough cases reported to DPH as of November 23, 2021 75,093
Female 44,491 (59.3%)
People aged \(\geq\) 65 Years 19,139 (25.5%)
Total Hospitalizations\(^a\) 3,426 (4.6%)
Total Deaths 1,295 (1.7%)
COVID-19-Related Deaths 1,113 (1.5%)
Note:
\(^a\) Please note that this count represents individuals who were hospitalized for any reason and tested positive for COVID-19. They were not necessarily hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Demographics

Demographics Number of Breakthrough Cases (%) All Hospitalizations\(^a\) (%) COVID-19-Related Deaths (%)
Gender
Female 44,491 (59.2%) 1,725 (50.4%) 510 (45.8%)
Male 30,584 (40.7%) 1,701 (49.6%) 603 (54.2%)
Unknown/Missing 18 (0.0%) NA NA
Age Group
0-17 2,216 (3.0%) 13 (0.4%) 0 (0.0%)
18-34 14,687 (19.6%) 98 (2.9%) 4 (0.4%)
35-54 25,982 (34.6%) 472 (13.8%) 66 (5.9%)
55-64 13,063 (17.4%) 564 (16.5%) 126 (11.3%)
65-84 17,101 (22.8%) 1,803 (52.6%) 666 (59.8%)
85+ 2,036 (2.7%) 476 (13.9%) 251 (22.6%)
Unknown/Missing 8 (0.0%) NA 0 (0.0%)
Race
White 41,725 (55.6%) 2,149 (62.7%) 782 (70.3%)
African American 15,479 (20.6%) 1,054 (30.8%) 288 (25.9%)
Asian 2,814 (3.7%) 40 (1.2%) 8 (0.7%)
American Indian/Alaska Native 70 (0.1%) 2 (0.1%) 0 (0.0%)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 65 (0.1%) 2 (0.1%) 1 (0.1%)
Other 3,117 (4.2%) 94 (2.7%) 30 (2.7%)
Unknown/Missing 11,823 (15.7%) 85 (2.5%) 4 (0.4%)
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic/Latino 56,107 (74.7%) 3,161 (92.3%) 1,095 (98.4%)
Hispanic/Latino 3,858 (5.1%) 102 (3.0%) 14 (1.3%)
Unknown/Missing 15,128 (20.1%) 163 (4.8%) 4 (0.4%)
Note:
\(^a\) Please note that this count represents individuals who were hospitalized for any reason and tested positive for COVID-19. They were not necessarily hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Days to Breakthrough

Counts

Row

Vaccination Coverage 2021-04-10 to 2021-11-23

COVID-19 Cases by Date of Positive Test and Vaccination Status 2021-04-10 to 2021-11-23

Row

Any Hospitalization by Date of Positive Test and Vaccination Status 2021-04-10 to 2021-11-23

Rates

Row

COVID-19 Cases per 100,000 by Date of Positive Test and Vaccination Status 2021-04-10 to 2021-11-23

Row

In October*, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons had:

Row

3.8X

4.8X

Row

Compared to fully vaccinated persons


Row

*Includes MMWR weeks 39 to 43