Vaccines 'Absolutely Do' Reduce Covid-19 Transmission

Vaccines "absolutely do" reduce the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Heath Northern Ireland, Professor Ian Young has said.

Highlighting the effectiveness of public health measures in tackling the virus, Professor Young said that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are less likely to pass it on to others; they are less likely to catch the virus in the first place, and even if they become infected there is evidence that they are less likely to transmit it to others.

Several studies worldwide have produced these findings, refuting the idea that vaccines do not prevent the spread of the virus.

A separate global study highlights mask-wearing as the single most effective public health measure at tackling Covid. The study, which has been published in the British Medical Journal, analysed data from over 70 individual studies undertaken in USA, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East.

Researchers from Monash University in Australia found that the studies indicated a 53 per cent reduction in new COVID-19 cases from wearing face masks.

Professor Ian Young said: "Vaccines absolutely do reduce transmission of the Covid-19 virus and there is strong evidence to that effect. The risk of a vaccinated person transmitting the virus is much lower than someone who is unvaccinated. While figures may vary, one recent study showed that a vaccinated person is 63 per cent less likely to pass the virus on."

"More importantly, most vaccinated people do not become infected in the first place therefore the full effect of vaccines on reducing transmission may be even higher than 63 per cent."

Professor Young continued: "The myth that, overall, vaccinated people carry and spread the virus as much as those unvaccinated is simply not true and needs to be challenged. It is unfortunate that some will chose to believe groundless and baseless information on social media rather than reading the studies carried out by medical and scientific experts."

Walk-in clinics have been set up to boost vaccination numbers and to deliver the booster to eligible groups.

Concluding, Professor Young said: "I urge everyone to check the facts and understand the data. There are still opportunities available to get vaccinated and I urge everyone to do so as soon as practically possible."