What we know about Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s breakthrough COVID-19 diagnosis

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson says he is still recovering from the breakthrough COVID-19 after testing positive on Tuesday.

In an email newsletter to residents, Johnson said he had mild symptoms of the virus but believes his situation is no worse since he is fully vaccinated. He got his first dose in January.

“Use it as an incentive to get vaccinated if you haven’t already – and to get a booster shot if you’re eligible,” Johnson said in a statement. It is unclear whether he was given a third dose.

How is he?

The mayor avoided hospitalization, said Johnson’s spokesman Tristan Hallman on Friday. However, Hallman did not share any details about Johnson’s recovery.

Johnson, who did not reveal his symptoms, canceled his public appearances this week because of the infection. He said earlier this week that his wife tested negative.

The mayor is expected to give this year’s speech on the state of the city in the town hall next Thursday. Hallman said Friday Johnson’s plans hadn’t changed.

Why did the mayor get a landmark case?

Vaccines can greatly reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, but no dose is 100% effective at preventing disease, say medical professionals. The data shows that the virus is more likely to kill people who haven’t received a vaccine.

“The risk of infection, hospitalization and death is much lower in vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people,” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported that data in August showed that unvaccinated people were six times more likely to get COVID-19 and 11 times more likely to die from the virus than people who were given injections.

How are the coronavirus cases developing?

Although coronavirus cases are back in decline, the virus has killed nearly 5,000 Dallas County residents since March 2020.

There have been 11,300 breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated people in Dallas County. Of these, 528 were hospitalized and 123 died from the virus.

Fully vaccinated adults 18 and over in the county account for 57%, or 1.1 million, of the nearly 2 million people in that age group, according to Dallas County.

About 78% of the new COVID-19 cases for the week of October 16 came from Dallas County residents who were not fully vaccinated.

When can younger children get the COVID vaccination?

The Food and Drug Administration cleared another hurdle for younger children to get COVID vaccinations on Friday. It has approved the Pfizer emergency vaccine in children ages 5-11, but still needs CDC approval – which could come next week – before doses are given to the younger age group.

FDA approval of one-third the dose given to teenagers and adults means 28 million more U.S. children could be eligible by next week.

The next steps are for CDC advisors to provide detailed recommendations on which children should be vaccinated before a final decision is made by the agency’s director. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[ad_1]