Thread by @rrudominer

I'm a member of the so-called extremely rare 0.098% of breakthrough COVID cases, and so is my brother (who is also my roommate). We're both symptomatic #breakthroughcases 1/

This week has been one big blur, one that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I'll spare you the worst except to say how beyond frustrating it's been to be SO SICK w/COVID after a year of being so vigilant & thinking I was finally out of the woods after being fully vaccinated; 2/

I'm living in the highly vaccinated NOVA/DC-area, & the CDC in May eased masking restrictions. (Yes, I was intimately familiar w/ the fact that vaccines weren't 100% & only meant to keep people from hospitalization and death, etc, etc. 3/

To be clear, I feel incredibly grateful to the Biden Administration for their extraordinary rollout, and for the vaccines that my immunocompromised brother & I received this spring. I shudder to think how much more dire this week & the coming weeks would be 4/

Still, what surprised us is how sick we both have gotten to where my immunocompromised brother needed monoclonal antibodies. Looking back, I regret last Tues night, going maskless to the sports bar to watch my hometown Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA finals. 5/

But, that's the problem with the delta variant & its higher viral load that’s driving this thing. All it takes after vaccination & everything from the past year we've dealt with was likely that one event 6/

& to think it's all b/c the unvaccinated continue to undeniably place the vaccinated at greater risk as the virus continues to mutate. I shiver b/c it's only going to get worse here on out unless the unvaccinated change their tune. 7/

From all my research & convos this week (I could have while experiencing COVID symptoms), in my estimation, there are MANY MORE breakthrough cases THAN reported (a fig. that will only continue to grow); yes, many may not be symptomatic like ours, but they are happening. 8/

There needs to be more transparency now. Not simply more "over-reassurance" public messaging. The #ers are super low only b/c vaccinated people no longer get tested. My bro actually showed symptoms before me and, as a result, got tested & received his positive result back 9/

- prompting me to get tested & receive my positive result the next day. We've since been in quarantine. Perhaps, the best gauge is to look at pro sports leagues that test vaccinated athletes daily 10/

We must not let ourselves live in fear of what the anti-vaxxers might say – that somehow this is proof that the vaccine doesn’t protect people from COVID. Or that we must stick to a script that says if you get vaccinated you will not get sick from COVID. WHY? 11/

b/c there’s going to be more increasingly serious breakthrough cases like ours. The delta variant & whatever comes next represent a brand new ballgame. Evidence is already emerging that vaccinated people infected with delta have measurable viral loads 12/

similar to those unvaccinated & infected with the variant. At the end of the day, in a pandemic, full transparency wins. It's the only thing that builds meaningful and lasting trust. LET’S NOT SET OURSELVES UP TO FAIL! 13/

We need to proactively lay the groundwork now that while the vaccines are incredibly effective they are not perfect. WHY? b/c people are bound to hear & personally know of (if not experience) more & more breakthrough cases (including hospitalizations). 14/

I'll also say this, mask up people when you are indoors in public places! As much as we'd like to think otherwise, being vaccinated does not mean being done COVID. It’s not JUST to protect those unvaccinated but to also protect yourselves & your loved ones. 15/

I get everyone is COVID-fatigued, but trust me, you & your loved ones don't want to experience getting COVID even in its "tamer" form. I hope my story can serve as a wake-up call! 16/

Especially b/c without a serious change in mindset (what I would normally call a breakthrough), given the reopening of schools on the horizon, the situation is likely only to grow much worse before it gets better. 17/

To those unvaccinated, it's reached the point of insanity. Not only does going unvaccinated put you & your loved ones at risk, and the nation's sacrifice, but it also denies people the "freedom" to live free from getting sick from COVID. 18/

Just yday, an unvaccinated friend was kind enough to wish my brother and me well and ask me how he can assist us. I responded by telling him "to get vaccinated." That's all I want from him and all the unvaccinated. 19/

I pray that my family & I have gotten through the worst. Only time will tell. All we can ask for in the meantime is that if you aren’t already, get vaccinated, and if you and your loved ones have been wise enough to, mask up indoors now! 🙏💕 20