Three people in Hawaii who were fully vaccinated tested positive for COVID-19 – but health officials are still urging everyone to get injected.
The individuals became infected after receiving both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, news channel KITV reported.
In all three cases, the patients did not become seriously ill – and it appears they did not transmit the virus to anyone else, the State Department of Health said.
One of the patients was a health worker in Oahu who completed their vaccination regimen in early January 2021.
About a month later, the employee traveled to various cities in the US, the agency said.
According to the travel protocol, the health care worker and their travel companion were tested for the virus before returning to Hawaii.
But they didn’t learn to test positive until they both returned to the state, health officials said.
Dr. Melinda Ashton of Hawaii Pacific Health said the case is a reminder of the risks associated with travel, even if you have been vaccinated against the virus.
“You have to be absolutely careful when you are at the airport, on the plane, with other people in larger groups,” Ashton told the outlet.
Officials added that it is not surprising that some vaccinated Hawaiians have tested positive for the virus.
“Remember, 95% of people get immunity from the vaccines and 5% don’t get from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine,” Lt. Gov. Josh Green to news channel KHON2.
‘Some people dive into this and say, oh, the vaccine won’t work. No, it works. It works for a huge percentage of people, but not everyone, and that’s an important message, ”Green added.
