Data: Many COVID-19 patients in December were vaccinated

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota health officials say more than half of state residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in December were vaccinated.

The Minnesota Department of Heath breakthrough case data does not indicate if people had received booster shots.

Roughly a third of those who were hospitalized for COVID-19 or died during that month also were vaccinated.

Health officials say the omicron variant was a big part of the growth in breakthrough infections.

Nevertheless, health officials say vaccines along with a booster dose remain the best way to protect against severe illness and to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

AP-WF-02-14-22 1404GMT

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