Fauci: Amount of Virus in COVID-19 Breakthrough Delta Cases ‘Almost Identical’ to Unvaccinated

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gives an opening statement during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss the ongoing federal response to COVID-19, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 11, 2021. Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters

Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said that federal data showed that the amount of virus in Delta strain COVID-19 breakthrough cases of those who are vaccinated is nearly identical to levels seen among unvaccinated people.

“What we learned that’s new ... is that when you look at the level of virus in the nasopharynx of people who are vaccinated who get breakthrough infections, it’s really quite high and equivalent to the level of virus in the nasopharynx of unvaccinated people who get infected,” Fauci said in an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. The nasopharynx is part of the nasal cavity near the back of the throat.