The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says an elderly woman who died from COVID-19 had been fully vaccinated. DHHS says the woman in her 80s had underlying medical conditions and developed COVID-19.
She was hospitalized more than 14 days after completing a vaccination series with the Pfizer vaccine. She was a resident of Two Rivers Health District in Kearney. DHHS says of 2,244 people that have died from COVID-19 in Nebraska, only one had been fully-vaccinated. This represents 0.04% of all COVID-19 deaths.
“We are saddened to learn of this occurrence. While no deaths occurred in vaccinated individuals in the clinical trials, we understand that no vaccine or medication is 100% effective when used by millions of people,” says Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone. “This does not negate the importance of vaccination and all of the positive effects of vaccination. Our state is approaching 50% of the total population being fully vaccinated and we need to keep that momentum. All Nebraskans who can get vaccinated should do so as soon as possible.”
DHHS says weekly deaths due to COVID-19 appear to be the lowest they’ve been since March 2020 and vaccines have likely played the biggest role in the steep decline. Cases of COVID-19 have declined substantially in long-term care facilities and across the state since vaccinations became available.
Nebraskans can register for vaccination at Vaccinate.Ne.Gov.