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Yes: We aren’t sure that vaccinated people can’t spread the virus.
And yes, this is “science” even if it’s surprising to you.
In fact, what we know and don’t know about vaccinations is a really important point so I would like to take a moment to walk through it. https://twitter.com/REB7772/status/1342673292658798592
And yes, this is “science” even if it’s surprising to you.
In fact, what we know and don’t know about vaccinations is a really important point so I would like to take a moment to walk through it. https://twitter.com/REB7772/status/1342673292658798592
First, when we’re talking about this, we are talking about what is *known* versus what you might *assume*. That is not the same what is real and what is a lie.
Scientists so far have focused mainly on finding out one thing: does this vaccine stop you developing Covid-19?
What they know: immunization with approved vaccines does stop the vast majority of people developing Covid-19—and without any unexpected ill effects. That's good!
What they know: immunization with approved vaccines does stop the vast majority of people developing Covid-19—and without any unexpected ill effects. That's good!
What is still being understood is whether you can carry the SARS-CoV2 virus and potentially spread it, even if you are safe from Covid yourself.
Why don't they know? Here are a couple of reasons:
Why don't they know? Here are a couple of reasons:
(a) this has all happened really fast! and (b) mostly they were only looking to see who developed symptoms. They weren't blanket testing everybody in these trials constantly. Consistent mass testing has been really hard in lots of places.
Anyway.
It's easy to presume that if you're immune to the disease then you can't pass it on—and that may well be the case—but we can't be *sure* about that yet until it's been properly studied.
It's easy to presume that if you're immune to the disease then you can't pass it on—and that may well be the case—but we can't be *sure* about that yet until it's been properly studied.
And the reason to be careful is a big one.
Imagine: If people who had taken a vaccine can still spread it, they'd be gallivanting around, immune to the effects of the disease but still passing it on to unvaccinated people. That could be terrible.
Imagine: If people who had taken a vaccine can still spread it, they'd be gallivanting around, immune to the effects of the disease but still passing it on to unvaccinated people. That could be terrible.
Again, nobody’s sure if that’s the case, but until we know more it’s sensible to assume so that you don’t go spreading it to vulnerable people.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca team *did* look at this, and found that there was a big reduction in the number of people who caught the virus, but it’s wasn’t conclusive. So more studies are happening.
And there might be different answers for different vaccines.
But the upside is what we DO know: people who have taken the vaccine are much safer.
That means if society gets to a point where almost everyone is immune, the disease just runs out of people to infect.
But the upside is what we DO know: people who have taken the vaccine are much safer.
That means if society gets to a point where almost everyone is immune, the disease just runs out of people to infect.
This *is* science.
Science doesn’t immediately know the answer to everything, even if you want it to.
Everyone hopes that the answers are all what we want to hear. Everyone want an end to all of this. The signs are positive, and there's reason to be optimistic.
Science doesn’t immediately know the answer to everything, even if you want it to.
Everyone hopes that the answers are all what we want to hear. Everyone want an end to all of this. The signs are positive, and there's reason to be optimistic.
But there are very good reasons to be cautious and not make assumptions, or it could end up making a bad situation even worse.
