Is it right vaccines get all the credit?

[YogaLite]

Am I the only one doubting this?

We know covid went through the older population - some of them sadly died, some recovered, some were asymptomatic (I know of 2 cases, tested for antibodies).

The same (alive) population has now been vaccinated without checking for antibodies so it's not impossible to say that some may have had antibodies anyway.

Is it now right to give vaccines all the credit?

There have been studies ongoing looking at how many in the general population have antibodies, so they will be able to see how much the vaccine rollout will affect this.

I assume the OP is just a polite version of the usual anti vaxxers, who is looking for a way to credit "something else" rather than accept that vaccines are what is going to lead the way out of a pandemic.

SeasonFinale I suspect you're right. 'Mon the vaccines

To answer your question, yes, it is right to give credit (??) to the the efficacy of the vaccine. But I do think the media are also giving credit to the impact of lockdown, schools being closed, etc. If we had been vaccinated at the same rate, but with no lockdown, there would be thousands and thousands more cases and hundreds more deaths a day.

I think the last estimate is that around 16% of the population have had covid, and this varies hugely by region. That's not enough to 'give credit' to for reduction in cases and reduction in death rates.

I think three things are going on.

1. Lockdown is reducing transmission. (Goodness knows how Leicester has managed to avoid reducing right down without ever coming out of some kind of lockdown).

2. Vaccination is resulting in fewer severe cases, therefore fewer admissions and deaths.

3. And, but I know there are people who will refuse to entertain this idea, diseases, as so much in nature, are cyclical. We have had a couple of huge peaks and this one is now in decline. There's a good chance that future peaks will be small, or smaller, partly because that's what's happened with other diseases and partly because of vaccination.

I wouldn't like to guess the relative importance of each of these at any particular time.

Yes, I agree, that's a more balanced view @amicissimma

Well no because it would have fallen a lot sooner. It directly correlates to the vaccine roll out and how long immunity takes to develop is clear from that.

A far thing to question I suppose. One of many things the experts will assess. I think every we can do the maths on this one though. Definitely will be able to clearer in a month or two. However for now look at the rate in deaths declining in the over 80s. Remember that previously 1 in 4 of that age group would have died. Also account for some immunity within that group. You need to check what the latest figures for that are. I can't remember. However there is starting to be a noticeable drop once you look at all those things

Oh and if you don't want to do the maths yourself. Look at the data from Israeli. There is no reason to believe there would be more immunity from previous infections in the younger unvaccinated. So the fact the the old vaccinated have had such a massive drop in hospitalisations and cases. Compared to the young is your proof.

Big Antibody

Why do some people appear to be desperate for the vaccines not to work well? The only thing I can think of is because they think it validates their antivaxx views...