July 13, 2023

Please refer media requests to Nancy.Nydam@dph.ga.gov. All other requests can be sent to contactpublichealth@dph.ga.gov. Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is actively monitoring COVID-19 breakthrough cases (cases occurring among individuals who completed their primary series) 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.

Note: Practice caution when interpreting case rates by vaccination and booster dose status. Several factors affect these crude case rates, making interpretation of recent trends difficult.Limitations include changing testing practices (such as at-home tests); higher prevalence of previous infection among those who are unvaccinated and not boosted; difficulty in accounting for time since vaccination and waning protection.

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

• COVID-19 breakthrough case definition for individuals who completed their primary series and a booster dose:

  • A Georgia resident meeting the below criteria:

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

  • SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen detected on a respiratory specimen collected in a individuals who completed their primary series ≥14 days after receipt of a booster or an additional dose of any COVID-19 vaccine on or after August 13, 2021

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

  • Note: This group is comprised of individuals receiving their COVID-19 booster doses as well as immunocompromised individuals receiving their additional COVID-19 dose after their primary series.

• Vaccinated with a primary series only: 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)

• Vaccinated with a primary series and booster dose : The number of Georgia residents who completed their primary series and received an additional or booster dose on or after August 13, 2021 was obtained from GRITS

• Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated: The number of Georgia residents who did not complete the primary series was obtained by subtracting the number of individuals who completed their primary series (including those with additional/booster doses) 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.

• Incidence Rate Estimates: Weekly incidence rates by vaccination status were calculated as the number of cases or deaths divided by the number of people who either completed their primary series (cumulative) or unvaccinated/partially vaccinated (obtained by subtracting the number of individuals who completed their primary series from the 2020 Georgia population) and multiplied by 100,000. Rates are adjusted for age, but not 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 those who completed their primary series only

• Monthly risk of infection or death: weekly average number of cases or deaths among unvaccinated/partially and individuals who completed their primary series, divided by number of unvaccinated/partially and individuals who completed their primary series that week.