WASHINGTON – The White House on Friday refused to release the number of breakthrough COVID-19 cases among vaccinated staff after one aide examined constructive for the virus earlier this week.

Press secretary Jen Psaki prompt the general public didn’t want that data, even because the U.S. vaccination effort is flagging and COVID cases are surging due to the extra contagious delta variant.

When requested Friday for knowledge on breakthrough cases on the White House, Psaki famous that vaccinated individuals who have breakthrough infections are a lot much less possible to get severely sick or die.

‘Nothing on this world is 100%’: Those totally vaccinated towards COVID-19 may be contaminated, however severe sickness is uncommon

“As many medical experts have said, inside and outside of the government, those who are vaccinated are protected from serious illness,” Psaki said during the White House briefing. “Most are asymptomatic if they are individuals who are vaccinated.”

She said the impact of breakthrough cases is limited because country is “in a different place” now than it was six or seven months ago, when the Biden administration’s vaccination campaign was just gaining steam.

When pressed by a reporter again, Psaki asked: “Why do you need to have that information?”

For “transparency, in the interest of the public, and a better understanding of how breakthrough cases work here at the White House,” the reporter responded.

More: White House official, Pelosi aide check constructive for coronavirus after attending occasion collectively

Psaki famous that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state and territorial well being departments to examine breakthrough infections.

According to the CDC, 56.4% of Americans have not less than one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday. That number falls brief of the White House’s purpose of having 70% of Americans vaccinated by the Fourth of July. As of Thursday, 48.8% of Americans had been totally vaccinated.

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Earlier this week, a White House official and an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., examined constructive for the coronavirus after attending an occasion collectively. Both the White House official and the Pelosi staffer had been totally vaccinated.

More: Amid fears over COVID-19 cases in Congress, White House, consultants urge vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccines are extremely efficient however don’t provide 100% safety towards the virus. That means a small proportion of people who find themselves totally vaccinated will nonetheless get COVID-19 if uncovered to the virus that causes it, in accordance to the CDC.

However, vaccinated individuals who have breakthrough infections are a lot much less possible to get severely sick or die. The CDC is working with state and native well being departments to establish breakthrough cases that lead to hospitalization or loss of life. As of July 12, of the greater than 159 million totally vaccinated folks within the U.S., about 5,500 had been hospitalized or died from COVID-19.

More: Panicked cities pressed Biden on rescue funds in the course of the pandemic. Months later, some are gradual to spend.

Earlier this week, Psaki stated multiple breakthrough case had occurred on the White House however declined to elaborate.

She instructed reporters Wednesday that some breakthrough cases are inevitable, since there are 2,000 folks on the White House campus every day. She stated the administration will release data if docs decide any staffer had shut contact with the president, vp or their spouses.

Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_

This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: White House refuses to release number of breakthrough COVID cases



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