MINNEAPOLIS — Health officials report dozens of fully-vaccinated people have contracted COVID-19 in Minnesota. However, that development wasn’t unexpected.

“It’s not surprising,” said Ann Orren, community public health supervisor with Southwest Health and Human Services. Although the vaccines currently available can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the vaccines are not 100% effective, she said. But even if a person gets COVID-19 after being vaccinated, they will be much less likely to have severe symptoms or be hospitalized, Orren said.

The state has identified 89 coronavirus infections in people who have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said the fraction of fully vaccinated people who still contract infections was expected. Clinical trials suggested the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95% effective. Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is said to be about 66% effective.

“We should not be fooled into seeing such a case as a reason to doubt the vaccine effectiveness,” said Ehresmann, noting that the cases represent less than one-tenth of one percent of people who have been fully vaccinated, the Star Tribune reported.

About 800,000 Minnesotans are fully vaccinated. Doctors said even those who required hospitalization after being vaccinated had milder symptoms.

“Yes, people get COVID, but people in general do overall better,” said Dr. Andrew Olson, M Health Fairview’s director of hospital medicine. “We have seen that both in patients in our system who are hospitalized and patients who are not hospitalized.”

Later this week, Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce a timetable to expand vaccine eligibility in Minnesota. President Joe Biden has challenged states to make everyone eligible May, and at least six, including North Dakota, will have reached that stage by March 29.

Orren said SWHHS has continued to hold vaccine clinics in a six-county region. Currently, the focus is on vaccinating priority groups including people with underlying health conditions and frontline workers like food processing plant and agricultural employees.

“We have done some targeted approaches,” working with employers in the region, Orren said. Area hospitals and pharmacies are also part of ongoing efforts to vaccinate eligible populations.

While the number of vaccinated Minnesotans continues to grow, Orren said it remains important for people to follow COVID-19 precautions like social distancing, wearing face coverings and washing hands often.

— Deb Gau contributed to this report