Infection despite Inoculation

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 5800 have infected by COVID-19 despite having been vaccinated. This number looks jarring at first glance, but upon further inspection, more accurate statistics can be observed. These 5.8k cases were out of 77 million vaccinations (making the rate of breakthrough cases 0.0075%), with 396 hospitalisations and 74 deaths.

Out of 150 people in Nashik (India) who have received at least the first dose of vaccination, 25 were hospitalised, 5 with serious symptoms. All of these people recovered in 14-15 days and no family members were infected.

Despite the statistics, chances of infection even after the vaccination are a cause for worry. However, most of these infections have perfectly rations reasons.

Firstly, the most successful vaccines do not have 100% efficacy rates. Pfizer-BioNTech is 95% effective and Moderna is 94%. Moreover, The vaccines are not instantaneous. After the dose (or one of the multiple doses) is administered, the body takes a few weeks to develop the necessary antibodies

The vaccines cannot work retroactively. If someone has been exposed to the virus before receiving the vaccine, symptoms show up soon after. Before the vaccination can effectively protect them against the virus, the infection continues to develop and crops up in a positive test result.

Covid-19 vaccines are being authorised on how effective they are at preventing the sickness, i.e. preventing the dangerous symptoms that result in hospitalisation or fatality. That is not the same as preventing the infection or preventing transmission to other people.

This leads to a very important point: even after being fully vaccinated, people are advised to not stop wearing masks, being sanitised, and maintaining social distance. Continuing to follow the Covid protocol. even after inoculation, for the foreseeable future is integral to maintaining the safety of you and your loved ones.

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