A vaccinated Marin County resident over the age of 75 has died due to complications from COVID-19, the county health department confirmed Friday.
This is the county's first COVID-19 death of a person who had been vaccinated.
It's unknown when the person died or if other factors, such as a pre-existing condition, were involved, and personal details have not been provided by the county.
Officials hoped to reassure residents that the COVID vaccines are effective.
"Death from COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals is rare, making up less than 1% of all COVID-19 deaths in the state of California," the department said in a statement.
The risk for severe illness or death post vaccination is highest in people whose immune systems are weakened, either by a pre existing condition or older age, Marin County's statement said.
There have been 187 total COVID-19 deaths recorded in Marin, including this instance.
The COVID-19 death rate in Marin County has dropped more than 20-fold since January after vaccines became more widely administered, according to the county.
Currently over 95% of residents over the age of 65 are vaccinated in the county.
