‘Breakthrough’ COVID death: Fully-vaccinated California woman dies from virus

A Napa, Calif., woman has died of COVID-19 despite being fully inoculated, offering a sharp reminder that vaccinated people are not invincible, especially if they are medically vulnerable and the virus is still circulating widely.

“No vaccine is 100% effective, but this does not diminish the urgency and importance of getting vaccinated, especially as more variant strains emerge,” said Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio. “Vaccines provide exceptional protection against death and illness from the virus and all residents should continue to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.”

The woman, who was not identified, died Wednesday after a prolonged hospitalization. She had underlying medical conditions and was over the age of 65.

Out of more than 17 million fully vaccinated Californians, there have been 5,305 post-vaccination COVID-19 cases identified as of May 26 – a “breakthrough” rate of 0.03%, according to
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