BATON ROUGE - As of Thursday (April 8), 170 people in Louisiana were classified as having a "breakthrough" vaccine COVID case - testing positive for coronavirus after being fully vaccinated.

A week earlier, the state reported 126 cases. 

The health department released new data Thursday during a news conference after WBRZ made repeated requests for information.

The average age of a person testing positive with COVID after completing a vaccine sequence was 68.  Patients range in age from 23 to 98 and most - 65% - are women. 

Of those cases, only 53 percent showed symptoms. 

Positive tests showed up, on average, about 34 days after completing a vaccine sequence, the state said.  No single vaccine seemed to be more common than another in the patients who tested positive after being vaccinated, the state said. 

A person is fully vaccinated 14 days after they've received the second of two doses or the one and only single-dose vaccine.

The cases of people having contracted COVID even after being fully vaccinated is a small fraction of the number of people who have completed the vaccine series.

"Keep in mind that these vaccines are highly effective — 95% for Pfizer, 94% for Moderna and 73% for Johnson & Johnson — and all three are 100% effective at preventing serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths," state health officials said.

Although, 11 of the 170 had been hospitalized as of Thursday, the state said. 

"These [breakthrough] cases are exceedingly rare," state health officials added.

"The COVID vaccines are safe and effective, and during clinical trials, COVID-positive cases were identified after a person was vaccinated in a small number of vaccinations," state health officials added.  

Though, the health department quantified: "No vaccine is 100% effective in 100% of circumstances and this is why building protective herd immunity through expanded community vaccination remains a goal in Louisiana and nationwide. It's also why we continue to stress that until we reach herd immunity wearing a mask and social distancing are critical tools in protecting yourself and your loved ones against COVID."

Click HERE to track vaccines in Louisiana. 

Click HERE to see a list of available vaccination centers.