Although the COVID-19 vaccine is extremely effective, it is possible to experience a breakthrough infection even if you’re fully vaccinated.
“Breakthrough cases, although uncommon, should be expected because no vaccine is 100 percent effective at preventing illness,” says Dr. Gerald Harmon, vice president of medical affairs at Tidelands Health, our region’s leader in COVID-19 vaccination. “Among the relatively few vaccinated people who do become infected, the vaccine offers excellent protection against serious illness and hospitalization.”

Numerous studies show the COVID-19 vaccine greatly reduces the overall risk of illness from the disease. For the small percentage of vaccinated people who experience a breakthrough infection, the vaccine greatly reduces the likelihood of severe illness and death, as well as the duration of transmissibility to others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who test positive are often either asymptomatic or experience milder symptoms than someone who is unvaccinated.

“That’s certainly true at Tidelands Health. We are seeing far fewer severe cases among those who are fully vaccinated,” Dr. Harmon says. “The vaccine is a critical tool for gaining the upper hand on this pandemic.”
As of mid-November 2021, more than 224 million people in the United States had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC.
“The risks of infection, hospitalization and death are all very much lower in vaccinated patients than unvaccinated people, “Dr. Harmon says. “Becoming fully vaccinated is your best defense against the disease.”

There is no out-of-pocket expense or health insurance needed to be vaccinated. Tidelands Health offers walk-in vaccination at three regional vaccination sites in Horry and Georgetown counties.
In addition to offering the initial two-dose regimen of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the health system is also offering the booster dose and third dose of the vaccine to eligible individuals. For more information, please click here.