Vaccinated against COVID? Study shows you’re less likely to infect others

People vaccinated with the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine are not only less likely to contract COVID-19, but they are less likely to share it, according to a new study released by Sheba Medical Center on Sunday. The study found that vaccinated family members are around 50% less likely to infect each other with the coronavirus if one of them becomes ill. by a family member who became ill while being vaccinated is 4% compared to the risk of an unvaccinated family member being infected by an unvaccinated family member, which is 57% . on certain parameters, such as the age of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and the time spent together. The study also found that when those infected were isolated, the risk of infecting family members was reduced by 80 to 90 percent.

“The results of this study reinforce the results of previous studies conducted in Sheba which indicate that vaccinated people not only are less infected, but they also infect others less,” said Professor Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the infectious disease epidemiology unit in Sheba. , who led the study. The hospital followed the households of some 12,518 health workers between the end of December 2020 and March 2021 and carried out this specific research with 210 families (902 people), including 191 adults and 24 children under 12 who tested positive for the virus. The study was conducted when the Alpha variant was the predominant strain in the country, and the researchers said the statistics might be different when talking about the Delta variant, which is currently dominant in Israel and around the world. Specifically, the study showed that the risk of an unvaccinated adult infecting another unvaccinated adult was 57%. The risk of an unvaccinated adult infecting an unvaccinated child was 35%. On the other hand, if the infected person was vaccinated, the risk of infecting an unvaccinated adult they live with has dropped to 17%. Finally, the probability that two unvaccinated people would become infected was 4%. “For the first time, we were able to quantify the real risk of contracting the coronavirus after significant exposure in vaccinated, unvaccinated, isolated and adults compared to children,” Regev-Said Yochay. The results also showed that isolating a household member with coronavirus is “necessary” and “effective,” the professor added – even if other household members are vaccinated. “This study is further proof of the importance of raising the vaccination rate in Israel and around the world,” continued Regev-Yochay. “This is the only effective way to reduce the pandemic and resume a routine life alongside the coronavirus. ”