7 out of 10 New COVID-19 Cases in People Aged 70 and Over Are 'Breakthrough Infections'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Among the recent new COVID-19 cases in people aged 70 and over, 7 out of 10 were so-called 'breakthrough infections,' where individuals were infected despite having completed vaccination.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 25th, among 21,741 confirmed cases aged 18 and over in the past two weeks (September 5?18), 85.5% were unvaccinated (11,945 people, 54.9%) or partially vaccinated (6,644 people, 30.6%). The remaining 3,152 cases (14.5%) were breakthrough infections confirmed after vaccination.

Looking at the proportion of breakthrough infections by age group: 4.3% (257 out of 5,916) in the 18?29 age group, 7.2% (328 out of 4,546) in their 40s, 9.0% (290 out of 3,209) in their 50s, and 10.4% (505 out of 4,867) in their 30s. The proportion of confirmed cases among fully vaccinated individuals was relatively low under age 50 but higher in those aged 60 and above.

Specifically, among 723 confirmed cases in their 70s, 72.5% (524 people), and among 350 confirmed cases aged 80 and above, 70.9% (248 people) were breakthrough infections. The proportion of fully vaccinated individuals among confirmed cases aged 70 and above was 71.9% (772 out of 1,073). In the 60s age group, nearly half of the 2,130 confirmed cases, 1,000 people (47.0%), were infected despite completing vaccination.