[Rooklift]

You are not confused. They are.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Byte1

The graphs fail to show reality. The graphs are based on the amount of positive test results, not how many NEW infected. If one person shows a positive result, then that person returns over and over again for testing until they show a negative result. Each one of those test results are counted as an additional infected. The test results and the reporting system are both flawed.

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

Yeah, it's been like that since the start of this whole ordeal.

My entire family has Covid in January (we found out via antibody tests in April when the tests frst came out)

Well, an antibody test that is positive also is a Covid-19 indicator. We tested monthly, so I have, myself contributed 12 positives to the counter personally, and my family nearly 50 positives...even though Covid tests are negative...

Now what will be interesting is if I have an actual positive Covid test, now that I am vaccinated as well.

Lots of things may get me, but I am doing my best to ensure it isn't this virus!

Here are three sites which give the number of tests administered to be more than 360M (more than one for every US citizen):
Statista
COVID tracking project
JHU

Both the COVID tracking project and the JHU page give the number of cases in the neighborhood of 30M. The COVID tracking page gives the number of individuals who tested negative as 75M.

30M cases + 75M negative individuals = 100M tests

Two thirds of the tests performed are not being counted as cases or individuals who test negative. Either that is due to data being tossed on the ground or that is due to data being de-duplicated. In either case, there is nothing that indicates that multiple positive tests from the same person are counted as separate cases.

[tuccillo]

I believe it is more accurate to say that everyone who has had both shots will experience a small probability that the vaccine will not protect them against asymptomatic infection or infection with mild symptoms. The vaccine appears to be drive the probability of severe disease or death to near zero for everyone who has had both shots. Of course, with J&J it is one shot.

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

Correct - we know that 4% of the people who receive the vaccine are not actually vaccinated. The comment 'fully vaccinated' means that they had both shots.

The article also states that this is perfectly normal in ALL vaccines.

[IADCathy]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Might be because only 15% of the US Population have been vaccinated. That leaves 85% (I'm a math wizard) of us are vulnerable and can spread the virus. Trying to protect that 85% until they are fully protected requires masks, social distancing, hand washing etc. Until that happens travel restrictions, masks on airplanes and trains and in unknown groups need to be continued. Your question is apples and oranges.

The question is "can vaccinated people carry the virus." That is apples to apples.

[Kirk Bell]

Check out California COVID rules!

[Tmarkwald]

Fully vaccinated people may travel, CDC says

[justjim]

Unfortunately wearing a mask became “political” early on in the pandemic. That said, you will likely see people wearing masks during the flu season long after the pandemic has been put to rest. I’ve got use to a mask and personally don’t see it any more an issue than wearing a seatbelt. I remember how people resisted wearing them. According to Google it is estimated 90.7% of adults now use seatbelts. Not required in New Hampshire.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Debra Freeman

Because people are getting ill from variants of Covid after being vaccinated. The stats are not in as to why this is happening but it’s been all over the news.

I just read an article that the Pfizer vaccine is covering the variant from South Africa extremely well. The article was linked in another forum and I can't recall which one so, I apologize for not providing a link. I will say I was extremely encouraged when I read that though.

I don't know if my assumption is very wrong but.....I do assume that what ever Pfizer claims about their vaccine, that the Moderna vaccine also must do the same, whether it is good news or bad news. As an example....I assume the Moderna vaccine also protects against the South African variant. Hope I'm not wrong about that.

[Tmcbryan]

I believe that the words "Suggest" and "Suggesting" show that the evidence is not 100% and other possibilities exist,

[Pachine58]

Did you read the side of the box the masks came in? Masks do not stop the virus. And vaccine, they have no idea how long they last or how effective they are on people. It’s all a crap shoot.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Pachine58

Did you read the side of the box the masks came in? Masks do not stop the virus. And vaccine, they have no idea how long they last or how effective they are on people. It’s all a crap shoot.

oh boy, got the kool-aid?

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by villageuser

She said, “LARGELY”. That does not mean “WILL DEFINITELY NOT”. Since one does not know if they are in the “largely” camp or in the “oops, it didn’t work for me” camp, we should all continue to wear our masks and social distance as recommended for vaccinated people.

By the way, i wanted to have an antibody test done to see if the vaccine had been effective for me, but my doctor would not approve it. He said an antibody test only tells you if you’ve had the virus. Since the three vaccines depend on memory B and T cells also to work, the antibody count does not provide the correct picture to determine one’s immunity level.

My understanding is a fully vaccinated person will develop antibodies only when they are exposed to the virus. The mRNA vaccines make your body recognize the Covid virus then the immune system springs into action and calls up the T cells and B cells which launch a full on attack against the virus and that includes producing antibodies to attack the virus. Those antibodies will not be detected in a blood test unless you are exposed to the virus.

If I have this incorrect, will one of you physicians help me out here? Thanks.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

My understanding is a fully vaccinated person will develop antibodies only when they are exposed to the virus. The mRNA vaccines make your body recognize the Covid virus then the immune system springs into action and calls up the Tcells and B cells which launch a full on attack against the virus and that includes producing antibodies to attack the virus. Those antibodies will not be detected in a blood test unless you are exposed to the virus.

If I have this incorrect, will one of you physicians help me out here? Thanks.

I think you nailed it - that's how I understand it as well. It's also interesting as this month my antibodies are finally gone, after nearly a year. But my exposure was 14 months ago. And I am fully vaccinated.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Eg_cruz

Not true.....people all over the US and the world are contracting the Covid virus weeks after being fully vaccinated, two in WA died. This is not a 100% fix, so just because you have been vaccinated dose not mean you are save from getting the virus.....they have told you that from day one.

This from ABC news about those who have contracted Covid in WA........

Of 1.2 million fully vaccinated people in Washington state, 100 have gotten COVID-19 - ABC News

Sorry to hear that have been deaths of fully vaccinated people. The two in WA were over 80 with underlying conditions. I guess these vaccines are not a guarantee that a person can not get severe disease. Sad to hear this news but I still feel very safe.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by stephen.q.pankow

Just a guess here, but the most likely explanation that I can think of is that since there's no way to readily tell if someone has been vaccinated or not, the decision to wear a mask or not would be on the honor system. Her and Fauci's concern isn't so much that people who have been vaccinated will spread the virus, it's more that people who haven't been vaccinated will no longer feel the social pressure to wear a mask, and that they'll be the ones spreading it.

You hit the nail on the head. And that's the politics behind this guideline that we all continue to wear masks regardless. That the virus can be spread by vaccinated people is a myth to perpetuate mask wearing by everyone, in my opinion.

Otherwise, if vaccinated people stopped wearing masks, so would some unvaccinated people, because we don't know who's received the vaccines and who hasn't. The only way to keep unvaccinated people masked is to say that everyone can still carry the virus and pass it on whether they've been vaccinated or not.

Nothing is ever as it seems.