Three people in Hawaii who have been completely vaccinated have tested positive for COVID-19 – but health officials are still urging everyone to be blocked.
People became infected after receiving both doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, KITV reported.
In all three cases, the patients did not become seriously ill – and did not appear to have transmitted the virus to anyone else, the state Department of Health said.
One of the patients was an Oahu medical worker who completed his vaccination regimen in early January 2021.
About a month later, the worker traveled to several US cities, the agency said.
Following the travel protocol, the medical employee and their travel companion were tested for the virus before returning to Hawaii.
But they did not find out that they gave positive results 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 the trip even if you are vaccinated against the virus.
“You absolutely have to be careful when you’re at the airport, on the plane, with other people in larger groups,” Ashton told reporters.
Officials added that it is not surprising that some vaccinated Hawaiians have tested positive for the virus.
“Remember, 95% of people have immunity to vaccines and 5% do not get the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine,” Lt. Government Josh Green told KHON2.
“Some people will think about it and say, oh, then the vaccine doesn’t work. Not working. It works in a huge percentage of people, but not in the whole world and this is an important message “, added Green.
