With the rising number of positive Covid-19 tests in the Isle of Wight, readers have approach us asking questions about the Covid-19 vaccinations.
News OnTheWight put the following questions to the Isle of Wight Public Health via the council. See below for their responses.
Your questions
Q: What do vaccines protect against? If a vaccination gave 79% protection, does the vaccine reduce your chance of becoming infected by 79%? Or is the severity of how infected/ill you become reduced by 79%?
A: The main outcome measured in the vaccination trials was the reduction in the proportion of people getting Covid-19 infection in the group who received the vaccine compared to the group who did not receive the vaccine. Other end points measured are being hospitalised, and dying from Covid-19 disease. Public Health England are monitoring the impact of the UK vaccination programme, to see the effectiveness of the programme ‘in real life’. There is good evidence that the vaccination programme is reducing symptomatic disease and hospitalisation in people who have been vaccinated compared to people who have not been vaccinated.
Q: If a person is vaccinated are their chances of transmitting Covid to another person reduced? If so, by how much? (Not passing on by touch to touch, but directly ‘sourced’ from the individual, eg airborne transmission)
A: People who are vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus because they are less likely to be infected in the first place. More research is needed for us to understand if a vaccinated person who has Covid-19 infection is less likely to transmit the virus to others. Until more data is available, other measures are still very important to prevent the spread of the virus such as mask wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene.
Q: Should people who have been double jabbed (until other jabs are needed) continue to wear masks when nearby others? (widespread behaviour has been observed contrary to this)
A: Everyone should be following the current government guidance regarding mask wearing regardless of whether they have had both vaccines.
Q: Should people keep a 2m distance from 1) others who have been double jabbed, or 2) people who have not?
A: Everyone should be following the current government guidance regarding social distancing regardless of whether they have had both vaccines.
Q: What is the percentage level of protection after first and second jabs for Pfizer and Astrazeneca vaccines?
A: The Pfizer vaccine is estimated to be 89% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 from between 15 and 21 days post vaccination and 96% effective 2 weeks after 2 doses.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is estimated to be 73% effective after 1 dose and 92% effective after 2 doses.
It is important to point out that new research findings are being published and analysed regularly so these figures maybe subject to change.
How to book your jab
If you haven’t already received the Covid-19 jab (Pfizer or Astrazeneca), walk-in appointments are available on the Island at the Riverside Centre or Westridge (see the updated list).
Alternatively, you can arrange pre-booked appointments by visiting the Website or by calling 119, free of charge.
