Woman vaccinated a month ago tests positive for COVID-19

A New York woman who was inoculated more than a month ago with a COVID-19 vaccine has tested positive for the virus.

The Long Island woman had taken the Moderna virus, which the pharmaceutical company says is 95.1% effective.

Melanie Rosen, who works as a secretary in the Hewlett-Woodmere school district, told PIX-11, a local TV station, that she thought once she got the vaccine she could return to normal life and stop wearing a mask.

But she began experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 shortly after attending a wake – unmasked – for the father of a friend. 

"There was probably at least 10 family members there," she said. "I hung out for about an hour and a half without wearing a mask. I hugged each one."

Rosen told the station that within a few days, she had a stuffy nose and body aches, especially in her legs, both symptoms of COVID-19.

In fact, a total of three family members who had attended the wake have tested positive for the virus.

"I was shocked," said Rosen, who tested positive Tuesday. "I'm the 4.9 percent that got Moderna and actually got COVID."

While none of the pharmaceutical companies have promised 100% protection, health officials say that vaccinations do tend to prevent serious cases that require hospitalization.

In Rosen's case, she suffered only a mild bout of COVID-19, but she's still warning people to continue to take precautions.

"You can still get it," she said. "You can probably still spread it. I want people to know it’s not over."