Some folk will do just about anything to avoid a vaccination. And false information keeps confusing them further. But we try to counter this by sharing evidence vaccination is the smart thing to do. One false message circulating is people with full vaccinations are equally contagious. Today we present evidence vaccinated people are NOT as likely to infect other people nearby.
Source of False News About Vaccinated People
Rumors and false information often spin from a kernel of fact. In this instance, the origin is a series of confusing statements from public-health authorities, and misleading media headlines. This is an unfortunate consequence of dealing with a new, and exceptionally virulent virus. But the reality is vaccinated people are NOT as likely to infect other people with COVID-19.
The Atlantic published an explainer post by Craig Spencer on September 23, 2021. Craig is an emergency-medicine physician, and director of global health in emergency medicine at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. He wrote his article as many fully vaccinated Americans began avoiding the company of fully vaccinated friends.
Vaccinated People NOT As Likely to Infect Others
The misinformation began spreading after CDC Director Rochelle Walensky mistakenly claimed ‘vaccinated people do not carry the virus’. However, her organization was quick to explain this was a misinterpretation of a research report. But unfortunately some media were unable to let go of the story.
Misunderstanding grew after news of an outbreak among vaccinated people in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This obliged CDC to advise ‘Vaccinated people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant can be just as contagious as unvaccinated people.
But few people appear to have read the report to the point where it says vaccinated people need a breakthrough infection for this to happen. Moreover, as Craig Spencer says they may harbor less of the virus. And are therefore less contagious for a shorter period of time, when compared with their unvaccinated counterparts.
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Atlantic Explainer Post by Craig Spencer
