Can I meet up with relatives and friends after getting vaccinated? Please avoid traveling far before "herd immunity"!
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan in May, there have been more than 10,000 new local cases. Before May, Taiwan’s willingness to receive vaccines and administer them was low, leaving the country in a difficult situation after the outbreak. Although the vaccine shortage has gradually eased since August and the vaccination rate has gradually increased, there have also been reports of several cases of confirmed cases even after vaccination. The doctor reminded that since the vaccine takes a certain amount of time to develop protection, it does not mean that you will be immune to the virus immediately after the vaccine is administered. He emphasized that after vaccination, you should still maintain social distance, reduce contact with people, and do a good job in epidemic prevention and hygiene. Avoid infection as much as possible.
“Breakthrough infection” is the culprit despite being vaccinated
With the news that people can still contract the disease after vaccination, people inevitably have questions about whether the vaccine is useless or the body is too weak. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, said that taking the case of a 40-year-old woman in Nantou as an example, she went to the United States to complete 2 doses of Pfizer/BNT vaccine in April 2021, returned to Taiwan on June 3, and was diagnosed with new coronavirus pneumonia four days later. Why is this happening? Dr. Huang Xuan said that this situation may be a “breakthrough infection” (Breakthrough Infection), which means that after vaccination, due to the inherent defects of the individual’s immune system, the adenovirus or mRNA in the vaccine cannot effectively stimulate immune cells to protect against viruses. , leading to the ineffectiveness of the vaccine.
Dr. Huang Xuan also mentioned that there is no vaccine with 100% protection at this stage. Even the Moderna and Pfizer/BNT vaccines, which are known for their high protective power, have protective power of 94.1% and 95% respectively. It is not impossible to be diagnosed again. . Dr. Huang Xuan took the United States as an example. As of June, 135 million people in the United States had been vaccinated. However, among these 135 million people, 3,016 people were infected with COVID-19 again, accounting for about 0.002% of the total number of vaccinations. Therefore, even if you have been vaccinated, there is still no guarantee that your body will not be infected again, and the required epidemic prevention measures must still be carried out.
Only by accelerating vaccine rollout and completing herd immunity will the community be able to lift the lockdown and see the light of day.
And how to avoid being diagnosed again after vaccination? Dr. Huang Xuan believes that from a public health perspective, it is only safe when “herd immunity” is achieved. Herd immunity can only be achieved when 70% to 80% of the population in the region have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The main effect of achieving herd immunity is not only to reduce the possibility of another outbreak in the future, but also to protect people who have not yet been vaccinated.
Doctors emphasized that it is equally important to maintain epidemic prevention measures. As mentioned earlier, vaccines cannot provide 100% protection. After vaccination, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and maintaining a safe social distance are still measures that must be implemented; in addition, accelerating vaccine implementation Vaping can also reduce the risk of being diagnosed again, because the spread of the virus does not wait for anyone. The new coronavirus has mutated many times, and the transmission chain can spread faster than imagined. It has yet to be determined whether the first generation of COVID-19 vaccines will be less effective against mutant virus strains. He appealed to the public that “the vaccine that is available is the best vaccine” and reminded those who meet the vaccination order to go to the designated vaccination sites in various counties and cities to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
It is generally believed that the vaccine will only start to take effect 12 to 14 days after vaccination. Therefore, during this period, it is still necessary to maintain a good social distance, maintain vigilance, and try not to meet with relatives and friends or gather in closed spaces unless necessary, to avoid the spread of the virus. The chain of transmission spreads, putting other unvaccinated people at risk. Only by speeding up vaccination and achieving the goal of herd immunity can we return to normal life as soon as possible. Before that, whether you have been vaccinated or not, try not to travel far and stay vigilant at all times!
Source:
Why Vaccines Alone Will Not End the Pandemic
“Why do I still get diagnosed with COVID-19 after taking the vaccine?” - Dr. Huang Xuan
