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Today, the first time, CDC says "Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with #COVID19."
THIS IS HUGE. A thread (with a NEW GIF PER REQUEST)
https://cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html
THIS IS HUGE. A thread (with a NEW GIF PER REQUEST)
https://cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html
My text messages are full of questions from folks: Is this justified? Why this change?
Now, I'm not part of CDC. But here's my read --> yes, this is justified. And here's why.
Now, I'm not part of CDC. But here's my read --> yes, this is justified. And here's why.
We have known for a while that the #COVID19 mRNA #vaccines protect the recipient (the person who gets vaccinated) from severe illness.
A big, unanswered question has been whether the vaccine also protects those AROUND you from getting sick.
Some new data suggests that it does.
A big, unanswered question has been whether the vaccine also protects those AROUND you from getting sick.
Some new data suggests that it does.
1) New preprint from Israel (not yet peer-reviewed, and small dataset):
A 4-fold decrease in viral load among those who happen to have a breakthrough infection, among those who have been vaccinated.
SO PROMISING - bc viral load <-> infectiousness
https://medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.06.21251283v1
A 4-fold decrease in viral load among those who happen to have a breakthrough infection, among those who have been vaccinated.
SO PROMISING - bc viral load <-> infectiousness
https://medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.06.21251283v1
In other words - people who are vaccinated:
* do get infected
* but may have lower levels of virus, so are less likely to transmit
(With caveats: small sample, short time period etc. But exciting!)
* do get infected
* but may have lower levels of virus, so are less likely to transmit
(With caveats: small sample, short time period etc. But exciting!)
2) Data last week from
@AstraZeneca suggesting that their shot reduces not just the # of people who get sick, but also the # who test positive on weekly swabs. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/02/single-dose-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-could-cut-transmission-by-67
@AstraZeneca suggesting that their shot reduces not just the # of people who get sick, but also the # who test positive on weekly swabs. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/02/single-dose-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-could-cut-transmission-by-67
(Caveat: I have not seen this data. But it suggests not just that vaccines *reduce* risk of transmission, but cause so-called "sterilizing immunity" - which would be amazing!!)
3) Finally, some data from
@moderna_tx released to FDA during the EUA process (PDF link below, see page 7) supports that their vaccine, too, reduces not just severe disease, not just symptomatic disease - but also infection by SARS-CoV2, PERIOD.
https://fda.gov/media/144453/download
@moderna_tx released to FDA during the EUA process (PDF link below, see page 7) supports that their vaccine, too, reduces not just severe disease, not just symptomatic disease - but also infection by SARS-CoV2, PERIOD.
https://fda.gov/media/144453/download
Now, at the end of the day, many of us suspect these vaccines will be similar to those of other vaccines-against-common-viruses (eg, chicken pox):
It will reduce-but-not-eliminate the chance of both getting really sick, & the chance of getting others sick https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vaccines-need-not-completely-stop-covid-transmission-to-curb-the-pandemic1/
It will reduce-but-not-eliminate the chance of both getting really sick, & the chance of getting others sick https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vaccines-need-not-completely-stop-covid-transmission-to-curb-the-pandemic1/
The good news, though is that will be enough to stop the horror we're living through.
(Assuming vaccines maintain ~70% efficacy against the new variants, AND either 80% of adults are vaccinated, and/or ppl keep following #MaskUp recommendations for now) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379720302841
(Assuming vaccines maintain ~70% efficacy against the new variants, AND either 80% of adults are vaccinated, and/or ppl keep following #MaskUp recommendations for now) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379720302841
A final caveat: even the CDC evidence makes clear, RIGHT NOW you have to be fully vaccinated for these reqs to apply. And you still need to wear masks around the unvaccinated!
And bc we don't yet know how long the vaccine "lasts" for, they cautiously recommend this for 3 months.
And bc we don't yet know how long the vaccine "lasts" for, they cautiously recommend this for 3 months.
To close: It is SO NICE to look at the CDC webpage and see it beautifully updated & accurate.
Kudos
@RWalensky
@CDCDirector & team
Kudos
@RWalensky
@CDCDirector & team
