RISK OF COVID INFECTION AFTER VACCINATION

The novel corona virus infection is frighteningly increasing worldwide. The first known infection from Covid were discovered in Wuhan, China. However, the original source of infection is still unclear. Covid-19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Corona virus (SARS-COV-2). WHO declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March11, 2020. So far millions of millions of people have contracted to the virus worldwide and it has contributed to millions of death. An immense effort of scientific community has led to the development of more than 300 vaccine project . Many of which are under still undergoing clinical evaluation . Before the vaccine is approved for use, it is extensively tested through several clinical trials to ensure the vaccine is safe and demonstrate that it induce immune response. Few vaccine have passed those clinical trials and have been approved by WHO for emergency use. WHO is making the global effort to ensure COVID-19 vaccine reaches the most in need. The efficacy rate of following vaccine approved by WHO are: 1)Pfizer and BioNTech : 95% 2)Moderna (mRNA) : 94% 3)AstraZenaca /OXFORD : 70% 4)Janssen: 66% 5)Sinovac: 65% 6)Bharat BioNTech:80% (DOH PHILLIPINESS)

While the vaccine is credibly bringing down the severity of illness, many people are contracting the virus even after vaccine inoculation. Such case is called Breakthrough Infection because the virus broke through the protective barrier the vaccine provided. It has been globally reported that Fully vaccinated people are testing positive for Covid-19. One question that has arise after reporting a breakthrough infection- “What’s the worth of vaccination if you can still get infection?” Well when we inspect closely there are 2 reason for such transmission ;

1) Health care and frontline workers are getting infected because of their constant high exposure to

Covid-19. 2) The emergence of highly transmissible variant of virus by mutation have contributed for infection

among those vaccinated. In some cases, it has reduces the efficacy of vaccine too. Break through

infection were not much expected previously but are now increasing because of growing

dominance of delta virus. Glad tidings, the existing Covid-19 vaccine are still very good at preventing symptomatic infections. It has been found that fully vaccinated people are recuperating more rapidly than unvaccinated one. To boot, vaccinated people are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people who are not vaccinated. Exceptionally, a few number of fully vaccinated people have been reported to be hospitalized or even die. It is imperative to note that no vaccine is 100% effective. So it’s not failure or surprise when some vaccinated people get sick with Covid -19 and such cases are not out of ordinary as vaccine approved are found to protect the disease not the transmission of virus.. Research on Covid 19 vaccine effectiveness and vaccine breakthrough case is still going on. In conclusion, we need to understand that being vaccinated doesn’t mean we can go maskless as there is every possibility of infection. Vaccinated people who get breakthrough infection can and do transmit the corona virus whether they are symptomatic and asymptomatic. Transmission can occur between two vaccinated people or from vaccinated people to unvaccinated person. So, we must need to continue wearing mask even after receiving complete jabs of vaccine. Each and every one must follow guidelines provided by WHO to prevent transmission of infection.

Reference: https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-breakthrough-infection-6-questions-answered-about-catching-covid-19-after-vaccination-164909 https://doh.gov.ph/vaccines/what-is-the-efficacy-rate-of-each-available-vaccine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUHPSeAiRVg https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/breakthrough-infection