Three people in Hawaii who were completely vaccinated have tested positive for COVID-19, but health officials are still urging everyone to get punched.
The individuals became infected after receiving both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, the KITV news station reported.
In all three cases, the patients did not suffer from serious illnesses and do not appear to have transmitted the virus to anyone else, the State Department of Health said.
One of the patients was a health worker on Oahu who completed his vaccination regimen in early January 2021.
About a month later, the worker traveled to several U.S. cities, the agency said.
Following the travel protocol, the health worker and his traveling companion tested for the virus before returning to Hawaii.
But they did not know they tested 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 traveling even if you are vaccinated against the virus.
“You absolutely have to be careful during the times when you’re at the airport, on the plane, with other people in larger groups,” Ashton said on departure.
Officials added that it is not surprising that some vaccinated Hawaiians have tested positive for the virus.
“Remember, 95% of people get immunity from vaccines and 5% don’t get the Modern and Pfizer vaccine,” Lieutenant Governor Josh Green told KHON2 news channel.
“There will be people who will go into this and say, oh, the vaccine doesn’t work. No, it does work. It works on a huge percentage of people, but not on everyone, and that’s an important message, ”Green added.
