The vaccine stops you getting sick but you can still pass it on?

[Myshinynewname2021]

My humble apologies if this has been done already! My understanding is that if you get vaccinated you can still get and pass on covid but you just won't get sick yourself.

So we would still need masks etc while those who are more vulnerable all get vaccinated. Just checking really. I was rather disappointed to hear this but wanted to check and see if a) that was the case (and yes I'm about to Google it too) and b) if that was a widely known fact?

Yes that is correct.

You understand correctly. It hasn't been done to death but has been widely covered. You must have missed it.

@Myshinynewname2021

My humble apologies if this has been done already! My understanding is that if you get vaccinated you can still get and pass on covid but you just won't get sick yourself.

So we would still need masks etc while those who are more vulnerable all get vaccinated. Just checking really. I was rather disappointed to hear this but wanted to check and see if a) that was the case (and yes I'm about to Google it too) and b) if that was a widely known fact?

If you take the AZ vaccine you can still get sick yourself, something like 30-50% of people still had symptoms with the two standard doses that has been authorised. But these symptoms are likely to be milder than if you naturally acquired the virus and you are unlikely to end up in hospital.

Impact on transmission is unknown. As speculation I would guess that the Pfizer vaccine will reduce transmission more because less people will get symptomatic disease after it (just 10%). But asymptomatic transmission may still occur with both, we just don’t know.

The more virus in your body, the more likely you are to spread it.

The vaccines will almost certainly reduce transmission, because your body will instantly recognise the threat and not allow huge numbers of viral particles to be manufactured. The virus may still do some replication in your body, even enough to be picked up by a very sensitive PCR test, but in general viral levels will be far lower.

Transmission may not be completely eliminated, but it will be considerably reduced.

Most vaccines stop transmission as well as protecting you.
We just don’t have the data to say that definitively yet for the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines. Those transmission studies are still ongoing. If all adults accept a vaccine the virus will struggle to have a hold anywhere.
Social distancing and masks will end once case rates drop to low levels though mass vaccination.
50% of people didn’t get symptoms with the Oxford vaccine.
The full data is in The Lancet (you can see it online).
The overall effectiveness depending on when you get a second dose is about 70-80% but it ALSO prevents people getting seriously ill and needing hospital.

@starfro

The more virus in your body, the more likely you are to spread it.

The vaccines will almost certainly reduce transmission, because your body will instantly recognise the threat and not allow huge numbers of viral particles to be manufactured. The virus may still do some replication in your body, even enough to be picked up by a very sensitive PCR test, but in general viral levels will be far lower.

Transmission may not be completely eliminated, but it will be considerably reduced.

The problem is that a number of studies have concluded that this virus is commonly transmitted in the pre-symptomatic phase, so before a patient develops any symptoms. It’s what makes it such a particularly annoying bugger. It’s unclear at this point what impact any of the vaccines will have on this pre-symptomatic transmission. It could be the immune system is activated early enough that less transmission occurs in that phase. But they just don’t know.

I believe that we do not know whether it reduces transmission or not, rather than knowing that it does not reduce transmission.

I would guess that it has not been rigorously tested for, but I think (hope) that it will reduce transmission. But since we do not know that for sure, then, yes, we will need to still continue to wear masks, whether vaccinated or not.

@Oly4

Most vaccines stop transmission as well as protecting you. We just don’t have the data to say that definitively yet for the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines. Those transmission studies are still ongoing. If all adults accept a vaccine the virus will struggle to have a hold anywhere. Social distancing and masks will end once case rates drop to low levels though mass vaccination. 50% of people didn’t get symptoms with the Oxford vaccine. The full data is in The Lancet (you can see it online). The overall effectiveness depending on when you get a second dose is about 70-80% but it ALSO prevents people getting seriously ill and needing hospital.

Final efficacy after two standard doses is quoted as 70.42% but that involved some questionable sub-group cherry picking, and the document is clear that number applies to under 65s only as efficacy is unknown in over 65s. I also understand from reading the literature on this that in the wild we can always expect vaccines to do somewhat less well efficacy-wise then in trial conditions.

The point is a sizeable number of AZ vaccine recipients will still be symptomatic but the severity of those symptoms will be limited and hospitalisation massively reduced.

Hm. So mixed responses much like the rest of MN/'tinternet I'm keen to have it ASAP but soneone I know who probably has a decent level of exposure (lives with an nhs person but not romantically) has had it and I guess I wanted to know if he was 'safe' (we work together and I'd like to go into the office a little).

I was also looking forward to being considered 'safe' for others! .

Yes l have had first vacince. But still being tested weekly at work as the residents have not had thiers yet. I understand l can still get virus and just won't get as sick and they not yet sure if l can pass it on

@Calmandmeasured1

You understand correctly. It hasn't been done to death but has been widely covered. You must have missed it.

No. The effects on transmit ability are unknown. Generally once you're vaccinated you don't get the disease and you don't pass it on. However clinical trials cannot verify that - as they'd then have to monitor every single person those vaccinated in the trial came across, and measure how many subsequently got the disease, and the likelihood of those contacts being responsible. Which is clearly impossible. So they will have to monitor the (hopeful) decline in the general population to ascertain whether vaccinating the population does in fact reduce transmit ability.

No it’s not yet known. Masks and distancing will be needed until the vulnerable have all been vaccinated. You won’t be able to be a ‘safe person’ until more reasearch has been done!

I remember Jonathan Van Tam saying this at a press conference.

I think it's reasonable for us all to wear masks, continue social distancing until everyone who will be offered and wants to take it up, has been vaccinated so we can continue to protect eachother. Obviously when we get to the point that the only ones who haven't been vaccinated are those that don't want to be, then can we totally relax. I'm anticipating that restrictions will slowly be lifted though as more are vaccinated, so there is hope.

I understood that too.

But I also understood (happy to be corrected!) that eventually when all those really vulnerable are vaccinated it won't matter that it's circulating because it'll be something everyone varies with no risk.

There's a few that it won't be like that for due to efficacy but it won't overwhelm healthcare and it'll be like cold, flu etc that sadly can kill indiscriminately but not at excessive levels.

I have a feeling we'll be locked down until at least group 4 prioritised. Back down through 5-1 as they do groups 4/5 and possibly by end of summer and into winter some of the mask wearing etc will be relaxed.