Less sense of security for those fully vaccinated against Coronavirus

[coriolis888]

It has been in excess of one month since I was vaccinated with the second dose of the Moderna Coronavirus vaccine.

 

I believed that I was protected from the virus as a result of my getting both doses of the vaccine.

 

Assuming I was protected, I went ahead and planned a trip to Europe for when Europe is reopened for Americans later this Spring.

 

The CDC recently softened some of the tough recommendations about masks and close contact with others fully vaccinated. Restaurants and many other places are reopening every day.

 

All seemed good to go.

 

However, in the news today, it is reported that more than three thousand cases of Coronavirus were diagnosed in California in fully vaccinated people.

 

Coronavirus cases that affect fully vaccinated people are called "breakthrough" cases.

 

The number of breakthrough cases for other locations outside California was not discussed in the article.

 

Even though there is higher than 90% protection from the virus due to the vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) there is still a small chance to catch the virus (via breakthrough). We should keep that in mind despite masking and distance rules being recently reduced.

 

A small comfort is in the fact that of those fully vaccinated, only 0.024 percent came down with the virus and those patients had less severe symptoms than non-vaccinated patients.

 

I am happy I got the vaccine. I encourage others to get the vaccine if not already vaccinated.

 

While it is true the small percentage of "breakthrough" Coronavirus cases is nowhere near the number of cases that would occur without a vaccine, I think many of us are falsely believing we are safe from getting the virus. In reality, we are safer, but not totally safe.

 

Here is one article that supports much of what is written above:

 

https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/3-084-post-vaccination-coronavirus-cases-have-been-reported-ca?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Edited May 13, 2021 by coriolis888

[+ FrankR]

It has been in excess of one month since I was vaccinated with the second dose of the Moderna Coronavirus vaccine.

 

I believed that I was protected from the virus as a result of my getting both doses of the vaccine.

 

Assuming I was protected, I went ahead and planned a trip to Europe for when Europe is reopened for Americans later this Spring.

 

The CDC recently softened some of the tough recommendations about masks and close contact with others fully vaccinated. Restaurants and many other places are reopening every day.

 

All seemed good to go.

 

However, in the news today, it is reported that more than three thousand cases of Coronavirus were diagnosed in California in fully vaccinated people.

 

Coronavirus cases that affect fully vaccinated people are called "breakthrough" cases.

 

The number of breakthrough cases for other locations outside California was not discussed in the article.

 

Even though there is higher than 90% protection from the virus due to the vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) there is still a small chance to catch the virus (via breakthrough). We should keep that in mind despite masking and distance rules being recently reduced.

 

A small comfort is in the fact that of those fully vaccinated, only 0.024 percent came down with the virus and those patients had less severe symptoms than non-vaccinated patients.

 

I am happy I got the vaccine. I encourage others to get the vaccine if not already vaccinated.

 

While it is true the small percentage of "breakthrough" Coronavirus cases is nowhere near the number of cases that would occur without a vaccine, I think many of us are falsely believing we are safe from getting the virus. In reality, we are safer, but not totally safe.

 

Here is one article that supports much of what is written above:

 

https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/3-084-post-vaccination-coronavirus-cases-have-been-reported-ca?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

The fact that there are so few breakthrough cases actually gives me a greater sense of security.

We are missing a key piece of information;

 

To date, California has not released any information on post-vaccination hospitalizations or the severity of any known breakthrough cases.

 

I suspect that when we see how impactful the vaccine is on the severity of those that do get the virus, we will sleep a lot better. Maskless. And without showering in hand sanitizer before bed! ?

[+ Lucky]

So far 7 staffers of the NY Yankees, all vaccinated, have tested positive for COVID-19.

[+ dupontversDC]

You could die of a car accident on the way to the airport. You could die of the flu. You could die by getting struck by lightening getting out of your car to walk into the airport.

 

You're looking for 100% to walk out the door?

[+ 7829V]

As I understand, the vaccine protects you from dying from the virus or having severe symptoms, not really from catching the virus and getting covid.

[Islesguy]

The number out of California is a very good sign of an effective vaccine. When risk of Darth from Covid is back under the risk of dying in motor vehicle accident or heart disease, it's a sign I am willing to venture out more and more. My biggest problem now, and I haven't experienced it yet, is people mask shaming. There are plenty of other reasons to wear a mask outdoors or indoors besides Covid. I used to be one of those people who looked at Asians who wore masks almost everywhere as ridiculous, but I have to come too see the effectiveness of it. Instead getting my semiannual cold in the last 18 months, I have avoided them. Will there come a time when I won't wear a mask in crowded spaces? Maybe, but it won't be anytime soon.

[+ dupontversDC]

As I understand, the vaccine protects you from dying from the virus or having severe symptoms, not really from catching the virus and getting covid.

 

That's entirely false. It gives GREAT protection from both catching the virus and spreading. In the extremely rare case that someone gets it, you also don't get as sick and in the trials and in Israel basically 100% don't end up in the hospital.

 

"NOT REALLY from catching the virus" is TOTALLY WRONG ... time to stop spreading anti-science fear mongering nonsense.

[Oscar Not Wilde]

GREAT protection doesn't mean 100% protection. Check the CDC website for the science.

 

From the CDC website: (bolding added)

COVID-19 vaccines will help protect you from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19

• Large-scale clinical trials found that COVID-19 vaccination prevented most people from getting COVID-19.
  
• All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19.
  
• It typically takes about two weeks for the body to build protection after vaccination. That means it is possible you could still get COVID-19 soon after vaccination. This is because your body has not had enough time to build full protection.
  
• Some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick because the vaccines are not 100% effective. When this happens, vaccination might help keep you from getting seriously ill, based on data from clinical studies.
  

[+ tassojunior]

of course the key is protection from dying or a severe case if infected.

 

your real concern should be how to figure out how immune you are as an individual. the vaccine provides less protection against mild-to-moderate cases for many on certain drugs and immune-suppressants, although thankfully it protects almost equally from serious cases or death.

 

also we don't know yet how long the protection lasts at full strength or partial.

 

I'll be travelling a lot to Europe soon too and am going to start purchasing travel health insurance since I hear their free healthcare no longer covers Americans (calling Mr. Biden!). any sort of covid hospitalization could be disastrously expensive.

[+ dupontversDC]

GREAT protection doesn't mean 100% protection. Check the CDC website for the science.

 

From the CDC website: (bolding added)

COVID-19 vaccines will help protect you from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19

• Large-scale clinical trials found that COVID-19 vaccination prevented most people from getting COVID-19.
  
• All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19.
  
• It typically takes about two weeks for the body to build protection after vaccination. That means it is possible you could still get COVID-19 soon after vaccination. This is because your body has not had enough time to build full protection.
  
• Some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick because the vaccines are not 100% effective. When this happens, vaccination might help keep you from getting seriously ill, based on data from clinical studies.
  

 

Right, so stay inside, never leave your house. Stop posting that you are not traveling because .002% of vaccinated people can get mild covid. Do you not understand the math here?

 

Go run the numbers on all the other ways you can die and communicable diseases. You really should never leave the house if your fear of Covid is so great that post vaccination you're freaked out by travel. Because there are many more things lurking in the dark shadows of neurotic paranoia you should be worried about as well.

[jjkrkwood]

From the very beginning of vaccine, they said that fully vaccinated people COULD become infected, however the effects would be less severe and NOT life threatening. So, vaccine is not a perfect solution, but for me, I have a peace of mind knowing I am vaccinated, and therefore am more inclined to interact with others although there is still some level of risk.

Edited May 14, 2021 by jjkrkwood

[kingsley88]

Not a mathematician here but I've always heard the moderna/pfizer vaccines had 95% efficacy so those numbers from CA are not surprising. As you stated, it's only .024% of those vaccinated.

 

I'll admit though that the term "breakthrough" case got me confused at first since I normally consider breakthrough as a good thing.

[+ sniper]

This makes it, overall, much LESS deadly than the flu, so yeah, with numbers like that we should be able to go about our lives normally if vaccinated.

[+ dupontversDC]

People seem to forget that MOST cases of Covid, even unvaccinated, are not serious. Significant polling that people way overestimate the danger of hospitalization from Covid. With a vaccine, it's really less important a risk than many other things.

Edited May 13, 2021 by dupontversDC

[LookingAround]

Can’t wait to travel to Europe. I travel weekly within the USA. Stop with the scare. I’m fully vax’ed and grateful for the vaccine.

[Oscar Not Wilde]

Right, so stay inside, never leave your house. Stop posting that you are not traveling because .002% of vaccinated people can get mild covid. Do you not understand the math here?

 

Go run the numbers on all the other ways you can die and communicable diseases. You really should never leave the house if your fear of Covid is so great that post vaccination you're freaked out by travel. Because there are many more things lurking in the dark shadows of neurotic paranoia you should be worried about as well.

 

For someone who advocates for science, you can't ignore the CDC. The point is that everyone has to understand this risk or any risk before they decide to do anything. You want people to follow the science as do I. I have trips planned and understand the risk associated and I choose to accept them. But you can't tell people there is no risk.

[+ dupontversDC]

For someone who advocates for science, you can't ignore the CDC. The point is that everyone has to understand this risk or any risk before they decide to do anything. You want people to follow the science as do I. I have trips planned and understand the risk associated and I choose to accept them. But you can't tell people there is no risk.

 

I didn't say there was no risk. I replied to someone saying, "the vaccine protects you from dying from the virus or having severe symptoms, not really from catching the virus and getting covid."

 

Bolding mine.

 

That statement is false. It's fear mongering. It's so wrong it needs to be pointed out every time it's said. Statements like that will keep people from getting vaccinated and hurt people who are.

 

You can cling to the worst case of everything, and that's not healthy and leads to far worse decision making for a society.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/05/liberals-covid-19-science-denial-lockdown/618780/

 

Is a 90-95% reduction in your chance of getting Covid, "not really" protecting you?

 

The numbers of breakthrough cases indicate the protection is even better than the clinical trials, but sure, let's all wring our hands and pearl clutch over the incredibly rare, but possible.

Edited May 13, 2021 by dupontversDC

[+ Charlie]

People seem to forget that MOST cases of Covid, even unvaccinated, are not serious. Significant polling that people way overestimate the danger of hospitalization from Covid. With a vaccine, it's really less important a risk than many other things.

The fact that someone hasn't been hospitalized doesn't necessarily mean that becoming infected is "not serious." A number of people who have technically "recovered" from COVID still report a variety of medical problems. We don't yet have enough experience to know what the longterm effects may be of having been infected with the virus. Although I have been vaccinated, I am in no hurry to put myself in situations where there is a strong likelihood of being exposed to the virus. Nothing we do is risk-free, but that doesn't mean I ignore what the probable risks are. I am not yet ready to congregate unmasked in a roomful of unmasked strangers, any more than I will eat deviled eggs that someone has left on a picnic table in the park.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

We also get pneumonia and flu shots, yet people still come down with both. Just not as severely (and likely not deadly).

 

This is why we vax. To protect us, to protest those around us.

 

Why America would want to fuck up the chance at herd immunity is beyond my comprehension.

[+ Lucky]

Yankee shortstop Gleyber Torres once had COVID, then was vaccinated, and today he tested positive for COVID again. This is quite troubling. I am beginning to doubt the efficacy of the vaccines, or at least the J&J vaccine.

It's hard to believe that other Yankee players won't join him.

 

https://nypost.com/2021/05/13/gleyber-torres-tests-positive-for-covid-19-amid-yankees-outbreak/

Gleyber:

[+ dupontversDC]

Yankee shortstop Gleyber Torres once had COVID, then was vaccinated, and today he tested positive for COVID again. This is quite troubling. I am beginning to doubt the efficacy of the vaccines, or at least the J&J vaccine.

It's hard to believe that other Yankee players won't join him.

 

https://nypost.com/2021/05/13/gleyber-torres-tests-positive-for-covid-19-amid-yankees-outbreak/

Gleyber:

By all means. Reject math and science. You would have done well in the Trump administration.

[jjkrkwood]

I do follow science and guidelines, but considering a majority of the country is NOT vaccinated, this new messaging IMO is dangerous, and can bite the CDC in its ass, when people that arent vaccinated will be throwing off their masks. There certainly WILL be situations in which I will continue to wear a mask until the majority of the country IS vaccinated.

[+ dupontversDC]

I do follow science and guidelines, but considering a majority of the country is NOT vaccinated, this new messaging IMO is dangerous, and can bite the CDC in its ass, when people that arent vaccinated will be throwing off their masks. There certainly WILL be situations in which I will continue to wear a mask until the majority of the country IS vaccinated.

 

LOL. Read the article in The Atlantic, you're displaying all those behaviors. You do know the CDC is FULLY aware of your concern and have been ultra-cautious in their advice.

[+ dupontversDC]

• "If you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you can start doing the things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.
  

[coriolis888]

• "If you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you can start doing the things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.
  

 

Subject to the small percentage of "breakthrough" cases where a fully vaccinated person can still acquire covid.