Darrick Robles The fact is: Even after a full vaccination, you can still become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. However, the likelihood of contracting the virus, transmitting it to others or becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 is significantly lower.
A vaccination breakthrough occurs when a fully vaccinated person becomes infected with the coronavirus at least 14 days after their second dose. Although the corona vaccines currently in use offer a high level of protection against the virus, a small number of vaccination breakthroughs can be expected, since the vaccines do not protect against infection 100 percent.
In fact, no vaccine provides 100 percent protection for any disease. Even the measles vaccine provides “only” 98 to 99 percent protection .
“Breakthrough infections, while rare, do occur — especially after a single vaccine dose,” says Dr. Annette Alaeus, Med-Healths’s infectious disease specialist a severe course of Covid-19.”
What is the risk of contracting Covid-19 after vaccination?
Although vaccination breakthroughs are rare, a few fully vaccinated people can still contract Covid-19. The best protection against the highly contagious Delta variant, which is currently prevalent in Europe, is full vaccination (usually 2 doses of vaccine).
A new study from the UK shows that after two doses, BionTech/Pfizer’s vaccine prevents 93 percent of symptomatic disease with the Delta variant, while AstraZeneca’s vaccine is 71 percent effective.
“Some people are not as well protected by vaccination as others are,” explains Dr. Alaeus. “Older people are more at risk for breakthrough infections, as are people with weaker immune systems and people taking immunosuppressive drugs.”
In some federal states, elderly and immunocompromised people can already receive a third booster vaccination. This is intended to contain the increasing number of infections in autumn and winter.
What should I do if I have Covid-19 symptoms despite being vaccinated?
“Anyone who becomes infected with the coronavirus after being vaccinated is likely to have only mild symptoms. The immune system has already been enabled by the vaccine to recognize the virus and form antibodies,” says Dr. Alaeus. You may have no symptoms at all or only a few for a short period of time. These can be like a mild cold feel
Other symptoms reported in vaccine breakthroughs include:
- headache
- Runny nose
- Sneeze
- Sore throat
- loss of sense of smell
If you have been fully vaccinated and are showing symptoms of Covid-19, you should get tested as a precaution.
“The severity of the disease is lower in those who have a breakthrough infection than in unvaccinated people,” says Dr. Alaeus. According to current RKI figures, over 94 percent of Covid patients in intensive care units are unvaccinated.
A new study from California confirms this: Unvaccinated people have a 29 times higher risk of being hospitalized with Covid-19 than vaccinated people.
Can I still infect others despite being vaccinated?
Initial data indicate that the vaccines are very effective at preventing transmission. However, it is still possible for vaccinated people to spread the virus further – even if they have no symptoms.
“With the Delta variant, we see more breakthrough infections because it’s much easier to transmit,” said Dr. Alaeus. “You’re more likely to pass the virus on and be contagious longer because each person carries a higher viral load.”
How long do the vaccines work?
There is growing evidence that antibody levels decline within a few weeks of vaccination – and levels can be expected to fall over time if exposure to the virus is not constant.
However, current research results also show that protection against serious illness and fatal outcomes is apparently maintained because other immune cells are preserved over a longer period of time.
“We do not yet fully know how long the protection provided by the coronavirus vaccines will last. However, the first clinical studies indicate that people with two doses have enough immune cells to prevent serious illness a year later,” says Dr. Alaeus.
Can I get Long Covid despite vaccination?
It is not yet clear whether you can get Long Covid after vaccination. We speak of Long Covid when symptoms persist or appear 4 weeks after infection with the coronavirus .
Data are scarce and larger studies are ongoing.
What can I do to protect myself from Delta and other virus variants?
Vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to reduce the risk of Covid-19. In addition to vaccination, we should continue to protect ourselves and others by
- comply with local restrictions,
- wear a mask in closed rooms,
- avoid crowds and poorly ventilated rooms,
- wash our hands regularly and
- Keep distance.
“In addition to these measures, it makes sense to continue to carry out rapid tests after vaccination to prevent the virus from spreading unintentionally,” says Dr. Alaeus.
