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News

The CDC publishes another study that shows the protection that vaccination provides against COVID-19


 

The CDC is out with another recent study comparing the incidence rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated vs. vaccinated individuals. It is mostly good news. The vaccine protects against infection, hospitalization, and death. This was true even after the delta variant became the predominant strain spreading in the US.

The incidence of infection was 4.6-fold less in the vaccinated vs the unvaccinated. The rate of hospitalization was 10.4-fold less and the rate of death was 11.3 fold less. So what's the bad news? It appears that the delta variant decreases the efficacy of the vaccine from 91% to 78% for infection. However, 78% is still a very good number for a vaccine. In addition, the efficacy of the vaccine for hospitalization and death was nearly unchanged. You can see the meaning of these numbers clearly when they are graphed.

Notice how the blue line (vaccinated) in all cases is far below the black line. Get vaccinated if you have not already. The increase in infection rate in vaccinated individuals makes clear why the CDC is asking vaccinated individuals to still wear their masks. It is possible, but much less likely, for even vaccinated individuals to get infected. I am willing to get vaccinated and wear a mask to protect my fellow citizens. Are you enough of a patriot to do the same?