Have Vaccine...will travel - but am I safe?
What is the purpose of getting vaccinated against COVID-19? The answer obviously, is to get protected against catching the virus. Does getting vaccinated do that? The available evidence points towards a straightforward ‘yes’.
Dr. Abraar Karan, who is on the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the U.S. says “Given that the efficacy rate of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are close to 95%, it protects those who have got the jab although there is still a 5% chance of infection”. However, she goes on to reassuringly add, that “one can expect it to be a much milder form of infection than without the vaccine”.
I understand that I am protected if I get vaccinated …but can I still infect others? Dr. Mark Jit, Professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says “I can”.
What all this means when I get immunized; is that, while I am 95% protected against COVID-19, I have a 5% chance of catching it, and, If I do, it would be a mild infection. At the same time, should I get infected, I can unknowingly transmit it others, because even though I am vaccinated, and protected and do not show any signs of the illness, I can become an asymptomatic spreader.
Do you detect an element of uncertainty here? I sure do. Because the data as to whether a vaccinated person can infect others is simply unavailable. In the haste to accelerate the development process, little or no attention was paid to that establishing that particular possibility.
Professor Jit cautions those living in areas where there is a large ongoing outbreak, to avoid travelling – even if that person is vaccinated. This raises two questions, “Do we allow visitors from high risk countries to enter our borders?” and “ Is it safe for a vaccinated person to go to high risk areas?
Dr Karan is of the opinion that even vaccinated people should be careful, adding “If you are vaccinated and have a good mask on, your risk of transmitting to others should be minimal. Masking for everyone will continue to play an important part throughout the vaccine rollout”.
Until a significant majority of people get vaccinated, no trip will be entirely safe from COVID, but as more shots go in arms travel will get safer and safer. And if early recipients make responsible choices—limiting contacts with people whose health status they don’t know, wearing a mask when they’re out in public—they can be some of the first to take advantage of that.
Ilzaf Keefahs is a freelance writer who enjoys focusing on hospitality related matters that he is passionate about, and likes to share his views with hoteliers and customers alike. He delves into the heart of hospitality to figure out both customer service and consumer trends that impact the industry.
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