Raleigh councilman with COVID-19: I'm glad I got my shot

About 99.999% of fully vaccinated Americans have not had a deadly Covid-19 breakthrough case, CDC data shows

"Days ago, I tested positive for COVID-19 despite being full vaccinated," Melton shared on Twitter and Instagram. "I'm isolating at home. My symptoms are mild and doctor said unlikely to worsen because of the vaccine. I'm glad I got my shot. Please get vaccinated and encourage others too."

When WRAL news caught up to Melton on Monday, he said, "I feel fine. I’m definitely on the mend. I had some congestion and sinus-related issues, but it’s been really minor."

Thousands of "breakthrough cases" of coronavirus, in which fully vaccinated people become infected, have been reported in North Carolina.

Dr. Rachel Roper, a professor of microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University, says that individual immune systems react differently to the same vaccine. Still, a breakthrough case is much more manageable and less severe when a person is fully vaccinated.

"It would be mild, like a cold, and they would be very unlikely to get hospitalized and die," she said.

As of the last report from the state Department of Health and Human Services, about 7,300 breakthrough COVID cases have been detected statewide. That's about 8 percent of the total number of cases. Of those, 388 people required hospitalization and 66 died.

"We're having some breakthrough cases, there's no doubt about that," Gov. Roy Cooper said. "The overwhelming evidence is that you don't get any ways as sick, and you generally don't have to go to the hospital and die if you have been vaccinated."

Medical experts told WRAL News the increase in breakthrough cases can be attributed to the contagious Delta variant and the fact that society has largely resumed pre-pandemic activities while people remove their masks.

Melton shared the news of his diagnosis with his followers on social media to encourage other people to get vaccinated.

“It’s the only way we’re going to get out of this pandemic fully is if we get more folks vaccinated," he said. "The virus won’t spread as quickly and it won’t be able to change and mutate into different variants as quickly.”