I Got a Shot. Will I Still Get Sick? - Bloomberg

susukema.blogspot.com

Here’s the latest news:

As delta spread quickens, CDC pressured to revise mask guidance

Pandemic’s ‘ eye-watering’ costs will linger, U.K. lawmakers say

Malaysian PM to justify shutting parliament to fight Covid-19

Covid Q&A: I got a shot. Will I still get sick?

In this week's edition of the Covid Q&A, we take a look at the risk of catching Covid for vaccinated people and people who have already had the virus. In hopes of making this very confusing time just a little less so, each week Bloomberg Prognosis is picking one question sent in by readers and putting it to experts in the field. This week's question comes to us from Todd. He asks:

If you’ve had Covid-19 and are fully vaccinated, what are the chances of catching Covid again, especially the highly contagious Delta strain?

Recently, there has been lots of talk of so-called breakthrough Covid cases in which people who have been fully vaccinated contract Covid-19. As the highly contagious delta variant surges in the U.S., reports of these cases have become more and more frequent. High-profile breakthrough infections have included an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

First, it’s important to remember that a vaccine is not some kind of magic, impenetrable shield. Vaccines rev up the body’s immune system so it’s prepared should it encounter Covid-19, but no vaccine is 100% effective. Likewise, a previous infection doesn’t guarantee you won’t catch Covid again. (And folks who have had the virus are definitely encouraged to get a vaccine — vaccines mean an extra immune boost.)

Right now, the highly contagious delta variant, combined with a flatlining vaccination campaign and a return to something like normal in most parts of the country, is fueling an increase in cases across the country. That includes an increase in cases among those already vaccinated.

But if you’ve been vaccinated — whether you’ve had Covid-19 or not — you still have pretty slim chances of catching the virus. 

“If you are fully vaccinated with an authorized vaccine, the chances are exceedingly low that you will catch Covid again and experience severe illness, hospitalization, or death,” says Jessica Justman, an infectious disease specialist at Columbia University. “Just how low your chances are depends in part on how big a ‘dose’ of SARS-CoV-2 you are exposed to and how long the exposure lasts.”

Right now, more than 90% of people hospitalized with the virus are unvaccinated. Vaccines, clearly, provide excellent protection. 

But, says Justman, chances of getting a mild infection of Covid-19 if you’re vaccinated are a bit higher. A new study, she said, looked at vaccines in the real world and found that that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine provided 94% protection against the alpha variant of the virus and 88% against the delta variant. Two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine provided 74% protection against the alpha variant and 67% against the delta variant. Vaccines, in other words, appear highly effective even against the delta variant. 

“This is an area of active research but you are definitely better off than you would be if you were not vaccinated,” says Justman. 

Thanks to all of you for writing in this week! Next Sunday, we'll be answering the best question we receive again. So if you have any, we want to hear from you. Write to us at CovidQs@bloomberg.net—Kristen V. Brown

Track the Virus

The Latest Vaccine Numbers Across the World

The biggest vaccination campaign in history is under way. More than 3.82 billion doses have been administered across 180 countries, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 32.9 million doses a day. In the U.S., 341 million doses have been given so far. In the last week, an average of 548,914 doses per day were administered.  Read more here  
 

 

What you should read

Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here.

Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story.

Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close.

Adblock test (Why?)

"still" - Google News
July 25, 2021 at 06:25PM
https://ift.tt/37008ss

I Got a Shot. Will I Still Get Sick? - Bloomberg
"still" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35pEmfO
https://ift.tt/2YsogAP

Bagikan Berita Ini