The number of fully-vaccinated Minnesotans with COVID-19 jumped by more than 10,000 in the Department of Health’s latest report.
The Minnesota Department of Health releases data on breakthrough events just once a week (every Monday). As of Dec. 6, there were 103,764 cumulative breakthrough cases, 4,299 hospitalizations, and 737 deaths. Now, as of Dec. 13, there are 116,237 cumulative breakthrough cases, 4,701 hospitalizations, and 839 deaths.
That means the state added 12,473 new breakthrough cases and 102 new deaths in just one week.
This is despite the fact that 3.3 million Minnesotans over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. According to the Department of Health, 66.7% of Minnesotans over the age of five have completed their vaccine series.
The percentage of fully-vaccinated Minnesotans who have tested positive for the virus now sits at 3.513%, up from 3.149% on Dec. 6.
Some experts, such as health care veteran Kevin Roche, have criticized the way MDH reports breakthrough cases, which are not disclosed by date of event.
“They think about the message they want first and then they put out data in a way that is designed to support that message. That’s frankly just a despicable practice. It’s disrespectful of the citizenry, and the state of Minnesota clearly does that,” Roche told Alpha News.
A recent study found that the new omicron variant is more resistant to the vaccines but less likely to cause severe illness.