Fatal Breakthrough cases in the BA.5/BA.4.6/BF.7 era

Decreased Case Fatality Rate (CRD) in the Omicron era was largely a result of the decreased pathogenicity of Omicron. In one study of 101 470 patients, mortality rates were 0.7% for Delta (B.1.617.2), 0.4% for Omicron (B.1.1.529), and 0.3% for Omicron (BA.2) subvariants. Yet, people keep dying from COVID even in the BA.5/BA4.6 variants era, since the severity of symptoms is affected by age and other health conditions. 

One of the most recent October 2022 COVID-19 fatalities was a 62-year-old veteran competitive bodybuilder. He completed his primary vaccination series in April 2021. A 67-year old theoretical physicist died on October 19th from complications of COVID-19 he had in September. A 63-year-old person with Navajo ancestry died after her 10-month battle with the original strain of Omicron. 

By May 2022, more vaccinated individuals aged 90 or more died from COVID-19 than unvaccinated elderly of the same age. By mid-October 2022, cumulative incidence of breakthrough deaths started to exceed non-vaccinated deaths among all ages (see stats for Canada for Sep. 2022). 

In August of 2021, about 18.9% of COVID-19 deaths occurred among the 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 fully vaccinated and boosted with their first dose. By February 2022, that percentage had increased to about 25%.


REFERENCES

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/oct/24/instagram-posts/bodybuilder-doug-brignole-died-covid-19-infection/

Fitness Volt, "Bodybuilding Icon Doug Brignole Passes Away At 63," Oct. 14, 2022

YouTube, "Doug Bringnole Path to Mr. Universe V5" 

Former Rep. Sylvia Laughter of the Navajo Nation dies at 63 (azcentral.com)

COVID-19 deaths by vaccination status in England 2022 | Statista

Number of COVID-19 deaths by vaccination status Canada 2022 | Statista


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