COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Breakthrough Infections and VAERS

As of May 12, 2021, three experimental COVID-19 vaccines have been Authorized for emergency use in the USA.

Since December 11, 2020, the U.S. CDC had reported 116,576,359 people had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This data represents about 35.1% of the US population.

As of April 26, 2021, the total number of COVID-19 vaccine Breakthrough Infections (post-vaccination infection) reported to the CDC was 9,245.

Additionally, the USA's early warning system that monitors the safety of vaccines after they are authorized or licensed for use is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

From December 14, 2020, through May 10, 2021, VAERS received 4,434 reports of death (0.0017%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

However, VAERS reports cannot prove that a vaccine caused a problem.

CDC and FDA physicians review each case report of death as soon as notified, and the CDC requests medical records to assess these fatal cases further. A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines, says the CDC's website, as of May 11, 2021.