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I've heard that but then why do people say we need to get vaccinated to protect the most vulnerable members of society if the vaccine isn't actually slowing the

• heavyset_go 5y ago
  If you're vaccinated and become infected, you will have less of a viral load, and thus will spread less viral particles to others. The duration of infection will also be much shorter, thus lessening the time you can spread the infection to others. The vaccine also prevents some, but not all, infections in the first place. You're also less likely to take up a hospital bed that someone who is more vulnerable than you needs.
• bbatchelder 5y ago
  Vaccinated people are between 60-80% less likely to infect others, and they are infectious for less amount of time.
• sjg007 5y ago
  It's called being a decent human being and also the vaccine protects you as well.
  • hpoe 5y ago
    Well I got COVID before the vaccine came out and am not in a high risk group, so I'm not really that worried about me. But you say it is being a decent human being, but I am confused if we both agree the vaccine doesn't reduce infectivity then why would me getting it change anything for anyone else, since we know it doesn't protect others?
    • jat850 5y ago
      It amazes me that there remains this misguided view that vaccination efficacy around protecting others is a binary mechanism. It's not. There is evidence of at least partial reduction in infection, not just outcome, by being vaccinated. That's not including the nuanced aspect of it where being vaccinated reduces the severity and duration of symptomatic cases, which by nature reduces the likelihood simply based on time alone, of exposing others.
      • johnchristopher 5y ago
        > It amazes me that there remains this misguided view that vaccination efficacy around protecting others is a binary mechanism. It's not. There is evidence of at least partial reduction in infection, not just outcome, by being vaccinated. I do not understand if this argument is made in good faith or if it's covid deniers stirring shit up in the public debate or just rationalizing their fear of the syringe (yes, I know of 2 anti-vax who admitted it was their original reasons to refuse the vaccine).
        • jat850 5y ago
          I think with the majority of instances it's a matter of repeating what they've seen online somewhere, where it is nearly unilaterally presented in similar tone. Some cases are malicious intent I'm sure, but I wouldn't guess the most of them.
          • mikem170 5y ago
            Seems some people have a genuine difference in the way they asses their risk. Some people are scared that there have been 800k+ deaths in the U.S. Others say that's only 1 in 400, mostly old and with commodities, and not that big a deal.
            • sjg007 5y ago
              The sophomoric response would be the trope that teenagers always think they are invincible and it won’t happen to me. I think some people never grow out of that phase. There is also something called the normalcy bias which has an interplay with psychology and risk assessments. Something like 1 in 400 can easily become 1 in 200. At what point does the majority notice and act appropriately?
• johnchristopher 5y ago
  > I've heard that but then why do people say we need to get vaccinated to protect the most vulnerable members of society if the vaccine isn't actually slowing the spread and doesn't prevent infection? Why are you (and others) thinking that since vaccines aren't 100% effective it doesn't help protecting other people ? What kind of dissonance cognitive gets you there ? Why are you blind to the fact that a vaccine that mostly works still help reducing infections and why do you equate that to "vaccines don't work to protect others (since some vaccinated people can still infect others) so I shouldn't get vaccinated" ? How come you are working from a yes/no, full-or-nothing angle ? A glass of water won't 100% quench your thirst when you haven't drunk in a long time so you won't take it ?
• maxerickson 5y ago
  The vaccines do prevent infections and slow the spread. They just don't prevent all infections.