60 Fully Vaccinated Massachusetts Residents Die Of COVID-19; 3,100 Breakthrough Cases Recorded

Massachusetts reported Tuesday 60 new COVID-19 fatalities among its population of fully vaccinated residents, bringing the total number of breakthrough deaths in the state to nearly 2,500.

A total of 2,484 fully vaccinated individuals in Massachusetts have died due to the coronavirus as of Saturday, according to the most recent breakthrough report released by the state's Department of Public Health.

The number accounted for 0.05% of Massachusetts' 5,295,037 fully vaccinated residents, according to the department.

The state also reported 3,194 more COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated people, raising the total since the beginning of the vaccination campaign to 453,882 cases, or 8.6% of the group.

In addition, the state recorded 139 more hospitalizations among its fully vaccinated cases between Feb. 26 and March 5 for a total of 7,532 hospitalizations.

Overall, 23,708 people in Massachusetts have died due to COVID-19, according to data provided by The New York Times.

The state's highest number of breakthrough cases and hospitalizations in a single week came amid the omicron surge, with 86,450 cases and 884 hospitalizations being reported on Jan. 18.

The highest number of deaths among vaccinated individuals in a single week was reported the week of Feb. 1 with 290 deaths.

Officials in Massachusetts and public health experts have repeatedly stressed that vaccination greatly reduces hospitalization, severe illness and death as a result of COVID-19, The Boston Globe reported.

They have also encouraged fully vaccinated people to take their booster shots as a way to increase their protection from the virus, according to the outlet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the COVID-19 vaccines are "safe and effective."

"Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unusual following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks," the agency stated.

A total of 5,300,535 people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, according to the state's most recent vaccination report released Wednesday.

At least 95% of the state's population has received at least one vaccine dose, according to The New York Times.

Overall, the U.S. has reported a total of 79,198,539 COVID-19 cases and 959,533 virus-related deaths, data provided by the CDC showed.