EYECARE: Coronavirus BRIEFING: The Latest COVID-19 Data What We Know About Breakthrough Infections By Staff Tuesday, October 19, 2021 12:49 PM Breakthrough infections, or COVID-19 infections in the fully vaccinated, do happen, but the risk of severe illness and death is much lower. However, high-risk individuals may be more likely to experience severe illness when infected with COVID-19, even if they are fully vaccinated. Head over to USA Today to learn more about what we know about breakthrough infections.