COVID-19: Delta infections may produce similar virus levels regardless of vaccination status, early analysis suggests
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiology professor, says the early findings are a "big deal" but more work is needed to confirm them and find a definitive answer.
Friday 6 August 2021 13:46, UK
Coronavirus levels in people with the Delta variant may be similar regardless of whether or not they've been vaccinated - and it could have implications for infectiousness, early analysis suggests.
Public Health England's (PHE) said initial findings suggested "levels of virus in those who become infected with Delta having already been vaccinated may be similar to levels found in unvaccinated people".
"This may have implications for people's infectiousness, whether they have been vaccinated or not," it added.
It stressed it was "early exploratory analysis" and that more targeted studies were needed to give confirmation.
Sky's health correspondent Ashish Joshi said PHE's language was cautionary with a number of caveats such as "early exploratory findings".
But he said if the findings are confirmed, it could have" huge implications for transmissibility" as "data has consistently shown the vaccine slows down and should, effectively, stop the spread of the virus".
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiology professor at Reading University, told Sky News the early findings were a "big deal".
"We'll need more studies to find a definitive answer," he said.
"But if the vaccine only blocks transmission by, say, 50% you'll never get herd immunity even with a 100% vaccine uptake."
The Delta variant, which originated in India, remains dominant in the UK and accounts for approximately 99% of cases, said PHE in its
latest variant briefing.
New hospitalisation data confirm again that vaccines, while providing high levels of protection, are not 100% effective.