A mother who claims that COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent death, nor does it eliminate the need for restrictions to limit transmission, contains false and misleading information.
The image, posted on Facebook, consists of a list of what the user claims the vaccine cannot do, and ultimately questions the purpose of being completely vaccinated (here). It reads: ‘To sum up, the Covid19 vaccine … does not provide immunity. Do not eliminate the virus. Do not prevent death. Does not guarantee you will not get it. Do not prevent yourself from getting it. This does not stop you from passing it on. Do not eliminate the need for a travel ban. Do not eliminate the need for business closures. Does not exclude the need for connections. Do not eliminate the need for masking. So … what the hell is this actually doing? ‘
It is not accurate to say that the vaccine cannot prevent death, while the other claims in the post are unfounded or misleading.
At the time of writing, February 9, three COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the UK: Oxford / AstraZeneca, Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna (here). A statement from AstraZeneca on February 3 states that the two – dose vaccine has 82% efficacy against symptomatic diseases (here). For Pfizer / BioNTech it is said that the efficiency will reach 95%, while Moderna will reach 94.1% (here, here). Both AstraZeneca and Moderna also reported a 100% protection rate against serious consequences of COVID-19. However, Pfizer said 10 serious cases of COVID-19 were reported in its Phase III trial, nine of which were in the placebo group; one in the vaccine group.
Scientists are not yet sure how different vaccines will affect the transmission, that is, whether and to what extent it will prevent transmission from one person to another. However, early findings were positive. In the same statement from AstraZeneca, for example, it was said that a “significant impact” was found on the transfer, including asymptomatic transfer. In Israel, where 90% of those over 60 received their first dose of Pfizer vaccine, researchers say there are initial signs of the number of new infections being controlled (here, here).
The constant explosion of vaccines coupled with the current uncertainty about its effect on transmission has led to restrictions – mask wear, social distance and so on – being kept for the time being – and it is therefore misleading to say that the vaccine will not help switch them out (here). As more people are vaccinated and more information about the transfer becomes available, further decisions can be made about these restrictions.
VERDICT
Untrue. The three approved vaccines have been found to have a very significant effect on the prevention of symptomatic and severe COVID-19, including death. The effect of vaccines on transmission is currently unclear, although early results appear positive. As more information on the transfer becomes available, further decisions on restrictions can be made.
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