The examples of Israel and Iceland show that there is little hope of herd immunity. Both countries are at the forefront when it comes to high vaccination rates. But the delta variant is spreading rapidly. Your own full vaccination protects against a serious illness, but not against so-called vaccination breakthroughs, the infection of contact persons despite the vaccination.
For the first time in half a year, more than 6000 corona infections in one day were detected in Israel on Tuesday. This with the complete vaccination of almost 60 percent of the population. In Iceland, 75 percent of the population are double vaccinated. Now the country is being hit by a fourth wave, which is more powerful than the previous ones. Since mid-July, the number of new infections every day has risen from the single-digit range to more than 300.
Vaccination breakthroughs are proven by numerous studies and cases – such as that of the US epidemiologist Allan Massie. He was at a party with a total of 15 vaccinated people, eleven got Covid. That vaccinated people can also be contagious, this. alerted health authorities.
US authority issues test recommendation for vaccinated people
the U.S. Disease Control Agency (CDC) states that “fully vaccinated people with breakthrough infections of the Delta variant can also transmit the virus to others”. It is expressly pointed out that “unvaccinated people still represent the greatest danger”. But the “Delta variant seems to produce the same high amount of virus in both unvaccinated and vaccinated people,” explains the authority.
Accordingly, infected people who have been vaccinated can also be highly contagious in the first few days. But as with other variants, the amount of virus decreases faster in fully vaccinated people than in unvaccinated people, which is also a Study from Singapore proven: The viral load declines faster in people who have been vaccinated twice than in those who have not been vaccinated. “This means,” the CDC concludes, “that fully vaccinated people are less likely to be infectious for longer than unvaccinated people.”
Nevertheless, the CDC issued one at the end of July recommendationthat fully vaccinated people who have “come into close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed Covid-19” should also be tested. Until you receive the negative test result “you should wear a mask”.
Waiting for next generation vaccines
According to new data from the British Health Authority (PHE), infected people have similar levels of the coronavirus – regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. According to the authority, this could possibly affect people’s ability to be infected.
In the case of the original alpha variant, significantly fewer viruses would have been detected in a vaccine breakthrough than in the unvaccinated, according to the authority. Further targeted studies are needed to demonstrate how contagious people who have been vaccinated can be and what epidemiological role they play.
But the British health experts also make it clear: Having your own vaccination and vaccinating more and more people are no guarantee that you will be spared from corona disease and infect others. Vaccinations are likely to remain a reality. Studies are already showing promising candidates for second-generation Covid-19 vaccines expected in 2022.
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