If the vaccination doesn't prevent the transmission of the virus

[muminthesummer]

I've only just realised that you can still pass on the virus if you've had the vaccination. What use then is vaccinating all NHS staff, keyworkers etc. Is it purely to protect them from becoming ill themselves?

It reduces the chances of you dying.

It might reduce transmission. We just don’t know yet

There must be about 10 threads on this exact subject already. Do a search and you'll find your questions answered multiple times.

@Lululatch

It might reduce transmission. We just don’t know yet

This

It isn't that it doesn't prevent transmission, but that we don't know whether it does or not yet. The likelihood is that it does, but those who are vaccinated need to follow social distancing measures for now.

It probably does. But no one can claim it as it hasn't been scientifically proven.
Most vaccines prevent transmission, very few do not. It is reasonabe to assume it does. But rightly, decisions and advice are not made based on assumptions.

And that’s why we’re vaccinating the elderly first not the young working age population and why whenever someone says x profession needs to be vaccinated so they don’t spread it I think thank heavens that people who know the science made the priority list not just those who shouted loudest

Maybe you could read one of the other threads discussing this exact same question.

I've not seen anything about this before but great to hear that it may prevent transmission I really hope so. It all feels so doom and gloom at the moment.

I suspect it does prevent transmission and I suspect the powers that be are very confident that this is the case, even if it hasn't been proven yet. But as soon as it's confirmed, the people who've been vaccinated will argue that they shouldn't have to comply with restrictions any more - and then the unvaccinated will argue that it's not fair to make exemptions for some people not others, and before you know it, nobody is social distancing or wearing masks any more. Until the majority have been vaccinated, it's safer all round to claim it doesn't prevent transmission.

I've heard the Oxford one does and the other one doesn't

Jesus, if has been doing some heavy lifting on this board.

@nomorename

I've heard the Oxford one does and the other one doesn't

Source please?

There's no proof that it will reduce onward transmission but there is good reason to think that it might. We need to wait and see, in the meantime there is the small matter of hospitals struggling to cope and a necessity to protect staffing levels.

The common cold is extremely infectious but nobody dies of it. If coronavirus can be reduced to this level we can live with it.

@nomorename

I've heard the Oxford one does and the other one doesn't

I have seen this stated on here with no source but there was an interview in the Times with Pfizer Biontech guy and he was hopeful Pfizer would.

What use then is vaccinating all NHS staff, keyworkers etc. Is it purely to protect them from becoming ill themselves?

That sounds like you didn't think protecting me and my NHS colleagues from becoming ill (or, you know, dying) was worth it. I do hope that is not what you meant.

It’s not that it doesn’t it’s just that there’s no definite proof it doesn’t yet.

Think about the science behind it. How could you prove that vaccinated people definitely could not pass the virus on a at this stage?

@Lululatch

It might reduce transmission. We just don’t know yet

Supporting all of the PPs who've said this.

Because the NHS in the 4 nations has a primary care surveillance system baked in, it will be relatively straightforward to monitor people who have been vaccinated for a number of useful outcomes like this.

1. It is highly likely it will prevent or reduce onward transmission. We just don't know it yet. To my knowledge, the only vaccine that has no impact on transmission is one of the two polio vaccines. It would be unusual if the covid vaccines did not significantly reduce transmission, but we don't have the evidence base yet.

1. People are dying or suffering poor care because there is a lack of health care staff. Part of the reason behind this is many are off ill with covid. Reducing the numbers of staff sick with it will improve patient care, because there will be more NHS staff in to treat them.

1. NHS staff are knowingly putting themselves at real risk out of a sense of duty. Protecting them is the right thing to do.