Some California counties with above-average vaccination rates are also reporting higher cases of the Chinese coronavirus, according to the Bay Area News Group’s analysis of state data.
According to Mercury News, the analysis found virus cases “soaring” in counties with high vaccination rates, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco. All of those areas boast higher vaccination rates, yet they are also reporting more new cases of the Chinese coronavirus. Meanwhile, five counties with below-average vaccination rates — Modoc, Glenn, Lassen, Del Norte, San Benito — have experienced a dip in new cases.
Despite that, experts contend that vaccines are still effective.
Per CBS Sacramento:
However, UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Phillip Norris clarifies that the data doesn’t mean the vaccine is not working.
He notes, first, the counties referenced with higher vaccination and case rates are more densely populated.
“If there are a lot of people around you’re more likely to bump into one who has COVID,” Norris explained.
He also points to the reports of the delta variant carrying a significantly higher viral load than other variants.