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Original poster

Vaccine doesn’t stop you getting covid

105 replies

Dodie66 · 30/12/2020 18:01

Not sure if heard professor Van Tam correctly
Did he say that the vaccine only prevents serious illness and doesn’t stop you getting the virus? Also they don’t know if it stops you transmitting it to somebody else so we still can’t mix.
I thought once you had the vaccine that you would be able to mix

OP posts:
Katie517 · 30/12/2020 18:27

This isn’t new news. It’s the way the majority of vaccines work. The flu vaccine doesn’t prevent you getting flu it prevents you becoming seriously ill from flu no one gave this a second thought until covid came.

miimblemomble · 30/12/2020 18:27

Has any data been released on this? Or is it still speculation ?

FourTeaFallOut · 30/12/2020 18:28

Oh no, only 100% effective for those who can take the virus with one dose? SadSad
Only 80% effective at preventing infection after two jabs at 12 weeks intervals? SadSad

FourTeaFallOut · 30/12/2020 18:30

100% effective at protecting severe illness and death??? Sad

Beebumble2 · 30/12/2020 18:32

Misinterpretation of the facts around the vaccine is due to the language used by the non clinicians. Such as, implying that the vaccine will ‘beat’ the virus.
There are lots of ‘jolly’ adjectives being used which imply that everything will go back to ‘normal’ pre March 2020 once everyone has had the vaccine.
A more scientific and precise explanation is needed. If the politicians can’t do it they should leave any announcements to the Scientists.

LimaFoxtrotCharlie · 30/12/2020 18:36

@Dodie66

My daughter ws looking forwRd to getting the vaccine so that’s we could meet up.hubby is clinically vulnerable
Those who have been vaccinated will still have to comply with the Tier restrictions as they will still be capable of transmitting the virus.
AcornAutumn · 30/12/2020 18:37

I'm going to try to be charitable here

If this thread is representative of the general population, I'm now

  1. less baffled by how excited people were about the vaccine

  2. thinking that school education really needs to focus on practicalities of health as part of science

  3. hoping the general population will realise that what's been going on is utter madness

To the posters who thought it was a guarantee, did you think all of those who got flu or pneumonia had never been vaccinated?

herecomesthsun · 30/12/2020 18:38

I'd personallybe very happy to lose the risk of ending up in hospital or dead.

So it would seem the vaccine benefits the person who takes it - they won't get very ill - more than the people around them -they can still pass the virus on.

OnlyTeaForMe · 30/12/2020 18:39

Regarding the information that the Oxford vaccine had 100% efficacy in preventing death or severe illness requiring hospitalisation I found myself wondering though if this was because the only people taking part in the vaccine trial are likely to be relatively fit, young people who wouldn't be expected to die or become hospitalised?
Do already highly vulnerable people tend to sign up for vaccine trials?

MyPersona · 30/12/2020 18:39

@Beebumble2

Misinterpretation of the facts around the vaccine is due to the language used by the non clinicians. Such as, implying that the vaccine will ‘beat’ the virus. There are lots of ‘jolly’ adjectives being used which imply that everything will go back to ‘normal’ pre March 2020 once everyone has had the vaccine. A more scientific and precise explanation is needed. If the politicians can’t do it they should leave any announcements to the Scientists.
JVT gave an excellent explanation. People need to listen.

Those who have been vaccinated will still have to comply with the Tier restrictions as they will still be capable of transmitting the virus.

Whether or not the vaccine prevents transmission is unknown at this stage. Why have you stated incorrect information as though it is fact?

bumbleymummy · 30/12/2020 18:41

@Haffiana

Essentially it means that only people who have refused the vaccine will be getting very ill or dying.
Ummm... most people will have cv with no/mild symptoms. The choice isn’t between the vaccine and inevitable hospitalisation/death
ofwarren · 30/12/2020 18:42

My son is shielded and only 6. He won't be able to have the vaccine.
No idea what the plan is for people like him.

StealthPolarBear · 30/12/2020 18:42

I think it will reduce transmission, we just don't know that yet.
And once people aren't getting hospitalised or dying from it, we'll stop testing for it. So you'll just get another viral illness, without knowing for sure what it was.

teraculum29 · 30/12/2020 18:44

same with flu vaccine, it doesnt stop you getting a flu, but it will be milder.

Elliania · 30/12/2020 18:44

So in a nutshell - no the vaccine will not stop you potentially contracting Covid-19. This is why we will still need to carry on with other safety measures for a while - handwashing, masks, social distancing etc. The idea is that the vaccine contains the genetic code for the "spike" protein which is found in Covid & allows it to infect your cells & make you sick. By introducing that genetic code into your body, your immune system will be triggered to fight off & destroy the protein but producing anti-bodies.
This means that if you do end up contracting Covid after your vaccine, your immune system will recognise the spike protein as it forms & neutralise it. So you might potentially still be infectious but you hopefully won't get sick or at least not sick enough to require treatment beyond cold/flu remedies. Also because the vaccine uses the genetic code for the spike protein, that hopefully means it will also be effective against the new strains of Covid because even the mutated strains contain that protein.

There's a good article here about how the vaccine works www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/30/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-qa-do-results-show-far-happens-next/

StealthPolarBear · 30/12/2020 18:45

Presumably we DON'T KNOW about transmission as its very difficult to measure in a trial. If we find once many people are vaccinated that rates of infection drop (dfrom the survey) that will give us the evidence needed about transmission

Elephant4 · 30/12/2020 18:46

It’s not going to make a great deal of difference. Is it?

CousinLucy · 30/12/2020 18:48

The measles vaccine isn't 100% effective either, but it works for most. I'm trying to cling onto small gains.

Elliania · 30/12/2020 18:48

@Elephant4

It’s not going to make a great deal of difference. Is it?
Well hopefully it'll reduce the amount of people dying or needing hospital treatment, that's a pretty big difference for them at least!
raspberrymilton · 30/12/2020 18:50

@bumbleymummy

Exactly Jerome. I think some people mistakenly thought that the vaccine was going to get rid of the disease. It’s not. It will protect the most vulnerable from becoming seriously ill and being hospitalised or dying. That is good news. The problem is the ‘worried well’ who are terrified of catching the virus even though it will most likely be asymptomatic/mild for them.
"It will protect the most vulnerable from becoming seriously ill and being hospitalised or dying."

Unfortunately there are questions even about that...

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4037

Elliania · 30/12/2020 18:50

@CousinLucy

The measles vaccine isn't 100% effective either, but it works for most. I'm trying to cling onto small gains.
Totally, in fact I don't believe ANY vaccine is 100% effective but with enough people taking them at the highest possible efficacy rate it's possible to really reduce the number of people with the illness.
Tootsey11 · 30/12/2020 19:00

I've had covid.

My immune system did a crap job at fighting it off, it couldn't be arsed trying. I spent the best part of 4 months in bed.

For those people who have a lame immune system like mine, I wonder how effective this vaccine will be.

CousinLucy · 30/12/2020 19:02

@Elliania yes that's what I have learned too. I hear that Spain is going to create a list of people who refuse the vaccine. I only read the headline though due to limiting my diet of apocalyptic reading!

I feel GOOD about a vaccine! I'm pretty sure I haven't had Covid. I am convinced I'll be asymptomatic but what if I wasn't? What if I suffered and died? This is really good news for all of us to hurry up the herd immunity. It worked for smallpox, and I've certainly never had measles or rubella. I'm too old to have been vaccinated against mumps, but herd immunity, presumably, protects me. But then I've never been one to understand an anti-vaccination viewpoint.

I think our scientists are astounding and amazing and brilliant and I am SO GRATEFUL!

SideboardOfDoom · 30/12/2020 19:05

If the vaccine removes most of the risk of serious illness the virus just becomes another illness in general circulation. NHS can cope, job done.

grannysbay · 30/12/2020 19:07

Unfortunately, I seem to get flu most years despite having the jab. Failing to see the point of having the Oxford vaccine TBH. I recall reading that there was only 61% effectiveness in one study.