‘The vaccines no longer work’
Since the emergence of the delta variant in our country, many stories have been circulated about the corona vaccines. For example, the vaccines would no longer work well enough against this variant and many people think that they no longer have to comply with the corona rules once they are fully vaccinated. Three misunderstandings in a row.
1. ‘The vaccines do not work against the delta variant’
Due to all the media coverage surrounding the more contagious delta variant, you may wonder whether the current vaccines still protect you sufficiently against this mutation of the coronavirus.
Although the delta variant does indeed break through the vaccines somewhat more easily, it appears from recent research that Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca still work very well against the delta variant: 88 percent in two shots with Pfizer/BioNTech and 67 percent with AstraZeneca. In comparison: against the alpha variant – which is still the most widely circulated in our country – this is 93 and 73 percent respectively with full vaccination. Although a few percentages are lost due to the delta variant, you are still well protected against hospitalization and death from covid-19. Moderna also protects well, although some better research could be done, the NEJM thinks.
There is some more discussion about the Janssen vaccine. In a new small laboratory study with less than thirty participants, this vaccine is clearly less effective against the delta variant. Too small to really say anything about the 750,000 Dutch people who received this one-time injection, according to immunologist Marjolein van Egmond in the Volkskrant. But there is still strong evidence that the Janssen vaccine protects well against death and hospitalization. See also misunderstanding 3.
2. ‘I’ve been vaccinated, so I can do everything again’
Another persistent misunderstanding is that many people think they no longer have to comply with the corona rules once they are fully vaccinated. This is not wise, because even after you have had two shots (or one shot at Janssen), you can still get and spread the virus. No corona vaccine protects 100 percent against the corona virus. Like this reported the RIVM recently that of all people who have tested positive in recent weeks, nine percent have been fully vaccinated and 14 percent have been partially vaccinated. The majority – 77 percent – had not (yet) been vaccinated.
As long as the delta variant is circulated and not everyone has been fully vaccinated yet, we must therefore adhere to the corona rules for the time being. The chance of becoming (seriously) ill from Covid-19 is therefore a lot smaller.
3. ‘Janssen and AstraZeneca are bad vaccines’
Admittedly, the vector vaccines Janssen and AstraZeneca have not gained popularity. Causes: Lower protection rates and vaccine stops due to rare side effects. And yet you can’t say they are bad vaccines. They protect slightly less well against Covid-19 than the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, but Janssen is still on average 66 percent effective against both the alpha and the delta variant. According to the EMA, it even protects 90 percent against hospitalization due to Covid-19, just like the other vaccines. There is a chance that there will be a call for a second shot, because that makes the vaccine more effective. As described earlier, AstraZeneca is also a good and reliable vaccine with about 67 percent against both variants. Especially because it also protects around 90 percent against hospitalization due to covid-19.
Also read: This is how well you are protected after a full vaccination.
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