Vaccinated individuals potentially capable of passing infection to others, per experts
In an interview with RTL Nachtjournal, Uwe Janssens, President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of vaccine opponents if the production process is not thorough. Janssens's concerns extend beyond the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, as he believes that politics might jeopardize the vaccine production process due to a perceived need for speed.
Janssens finds the fact that there's already a vaccine on the market to be "sensational," but he is cautious about the implications of a rushed vaccine production process. He believes that the complex biotechnical nature of the vaccine makes it particularly susceptible to issues if not handled with care. However, his concerns are not limited to this aspect alone.
Recent studies show that while COVID-19 vaccines do not fully prevent transmission, they significantly reduce the likelihood and burden of spread. Vaccination lowers infection rates and disease severity, making it a key tool in controlling the pandemic, particularly for protecting individuals at higher risk of serious illness. Despite this, breakthrough infections and transmission from vaccinated people still occur.
Janssens is against rushing the production of the vaccine by other pharmaceutical companies, citing the potential negative consequences. He is against the demand for the vaccine to be produced under license by other companies due to the complexity of the biotechnical process.
Janssens's concerns about the vaccine production process are broader than just the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. He is concerned about the potential impact on the overall process and the potential resurgence of vaccine opponents if the process is not thorough. He suggests maintaining distance and wearing mouth and nose coverings, even for vaccinated individuals, for the next few months.
Despite the lower risk of household transmission across different SARS-CoV-2 variants for vaccinated individuals, it is still possible for them to infect others with the coronavirus. Vaccination remains crucial in protecting against severe outcomes, hospitalizations, and critical illness, especially for vulnerable groups including older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
In a high immunity population, additional vaccine doses provide very limited protection against infection and subsequent onward transmission, specifically in groups such as healthcare workers. This suggests that vaccination's primary benefit now is preventing severe disease rather than completely stopping transmission.
Janssens's interview highlights the importance of thoroughness and caution in the vaccine production process to prevent a potential resurgence of vaccine opponents and ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for all.
The science behind health-and-wellness, specifically mental-health therapies-and-treatments, requires a thorough and careful approach, akin to the vaccine production process. Uwe Janssens, in his interview with RTL Nachtjournal, emphasized this, expressing concerns that a rushed approach might lead to a resurgence of vaccine opponents and potential risks.
