Vaccine breakthrough infection and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant, Bavaria, Germany, February to March 2021

Euro Surveill. 2021 Jul;26(30):2100673. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.30.2100673.

Abstract

A breakthrough infection occurred in a fully Comirnaty (BNT162b2) vaccinated healthcare worker with high levels of neutralising antibodies with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 (Beta) variant in February 2021. The infection was subsequently transmitted to their unvaccinated spouse. Sequencing revealed an identical virus in both spouses, with a match of all nine single nucleotide polymorphisms typical for B.1.351. To the best of our knowledge, no transmission of any variant of SARS-CoV-2 from a fully vaccinated person has been described before.

Keywords: B.1.351; SARS-CoV-2; breakthrough infection; transmission; unvaccinated partner; vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines
  • BNT162 Vaccine