LONDON – The Covid-19 levels in patients infected with the Delta variant look similar, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not, said Public Health England (PHE) yesterday, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
This new finding – which PHE emphasised is still an “early explanatory analysis” and needs further investigation for confirmation – may have significant implications for the infectiousness of the virus.
PHE said initial evidence suggests that the “levels of virus in those who become infected with Delta having already been vaccinated may be similar to levels found in unvaccinated people”.
“This may have implications for people’s infectiousness, whether they have been vaccinated or not.”
Reading University microbiology professor Dr Simon Clarke said “if the vaccine only blocks transmission by, say, 50%, you will never get herd immunity even with a 100% vaccine uptake”.
The Delta variant now comprises around 99% of Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom (UK), according to PHE.
More than 46.9 million people, or 88.8% of the UK population, have received their first dose of the vaccine, and over 39 million (73.8%) are fully vaccinated. – Bernama, August 7, 2021
