The White House rejected, through its Press Secretary Jen Psaki, to declare the number of COVID-19 cases among staffers despite vaccinations. This comes after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.

The Press Secretary was asked during a late Friday press briefing: "Why won’t you just release the number of breakthrough cases that you’ve had of vaccinated staffers?"

Psaki answered the question by asking, "Why do you need to have this information?" 

This comes as US vaccination efforts are slowing down amid a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Delta variant, according to USA Today.

A reporter challenges @PressSec on not releasing the number of breakthrough covid cases among WH staffers:

REPORTER: "Why not just provide the number are you trying to hide something?"@PressSec: "Why do you need to have that information?"

REPORTER: "Transparency..." pic.twitter.com/POVmqkzEFr

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 23, 2021

Jen Psaki rejecting to release the number of breakthrough cases among vaccinated staffers comes after a White House official tested positive for COVID-19 this past week, as well as Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark. Both officials have been vaccinated.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective but do not offer 100% protection against the virus. That means a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if exposed to the virus that causes it.