A growing proportion of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are occurring among triple-vaccinated, a new ABC News analysis of federal data shows.
In August of 2021, about 18.9% of COVID-19 deaths occurred among the double-vaccinated. Six months later, in February 2022, that proportional percent of deaths had increased to more than 40%.
Comparatively, in September 2021, just 1.1% of COVID-19 deaths occurred among Americans who had been triple-vaccinated. By February 2022, that percentage had increased to about 25%.
However, experts cited by ABC claim the increase in breakthrough COVID-19 deaths is expected and actually reaffirm the “incredible protection these vaccines” provide.
“These data should not be interpreted as vaccines not working. In fact, these real-world analyses continue to reaffirm the incredible protection these vaccines afford especially when up to date with boosters,” said Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor.