COVID-19 infections after immunization doesn’t mean vaccine isn’t working: Strang

The province's chief medical officer of health says just because some people have tested positive for COVID-19 after being vaccinated doesn't mean the shot isn't working.

“These are called breakthrough infections and they are to be expected,” explained Dr. Robert Strang at a Wednesday briefing.

He said no vaccine is 100 per cent effective.

Strang added it takes two to three weeks to build up immunity and most of these breakthrough cases have come shortly after receiving the shot.

“So they haven't yet developed full immunity and may well have been exposed before they even got vaccinated,” he said. 

“And as more of our population gets immunized, more and more cases will, by nature, occur in people who have been vaccinated.”

He said it's still important Nova Scotians get vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“We do know that breakthrough cases tend to have milder illness, are less contagious and are much less likely to be hospitalized,” the doctor said. 

“And once you're vaccinated, you can not throw caution to the wind,” he added. “It's important for everyone to keep following public health protocols after vaccination until we have a much larger percentage of the population immunized and we have the virus under much better control.”