Why have so many vaccinated people recently contracted COVID-19?
From the emergence of the highly contagious Omexon variant, several factors are at play. Omikeron is more likely to infect people, even if it doesn't make them very sick, and in many places its surge coincides with the holiday travel season.
Louis Mansky, a virus researcher at the University of Minnesota, said one might mistakenly think that a coronavirus vaccine would stop infection altogether, but the vaccine is primarily meant to prevent serious diseases.
Vaccines still play a role in this regard, especially for those who have access to boosters.
Two doses of Pfizer Biotechnology or a modern vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine can still provide strong protection against serious disease in Omicron. While these initial doses are less adept at stopping an Omicron infection, boosters — particularly the Pfizer and Modena vaccines — raise antibody levels to help fight off infections.
Omikeron seems to replicate more efficiently than previous variants. If an infected person has a high viral load, they are more likely to transmit it to others, especially unvaccinated people. People who are vaccinated are more likely to have mild symptoms (if any) from the virus because the injection triggers multiple defenses of the immune system, making it easier for the ovibus to slide past them.
The advice to stay safe has not changed. Doctors say to wear masks indoors, avoid crowds, get vaccinated and boost their vaccines. Although these vaccines don't always stop you from getting the virus, they make you more likely to leave the hospital alive.
