Hopes for herd immunity are fading. While vaccines have been shown to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and deaths, current data suggest they do not halt transmission, according to experts including the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Sir Andrew Pollard.

While vaccines “may slightly slow the transmission process, as there is some evidence that inoculated people are infectious for a shorter period of time,” Pollard warned that “we don’t have anything” which will completely halt the spread of COVID-19.

Experts say vaccinated people are unlikely to transmit at the same rate as the unvaccinated — but they hedge by adding that more research is needed to confirm the research. “Even if viral load may be the same, vaccinated people who become infected are less likely to be infectious than unvaccinated because vaccines reduce virus shedding time, symptomatic infection, and the presence of immune response will suppress the viable virus,” said Dr. Muge Cevik, a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases and virology at St. Andrews University.

The Telegraph speculated that the findings could make travel more difficult and could affect decisions on whether to vaccinate children. The U.K has approved COVID-19 vaccinations for 16- and 17-year-old teens, but— unlike other countries including the U.S. and Germany — has not issued a recommendation or approval for vaccinating younger children.

SOURCE: The Telegraph August 10.2021