According to the US health service CDC, some vaccinated people who contract the Delta variant appear to have about as many virus particles in their bodies as unvaccinated people. Moreover, they would be equally contagious to others.
Vaccines reduce the chance that someone will become seriously ill after being infected or die from the corona virus. But if the number of infections rises, the number of deaths can also rise slightly. That is why, according to Rosendaal, it is important to continue to vaccinate to protect people. “Contagiousness is a big problem for countries with a low vaccination coverage. That’s why you also have to vaccinate in poor countries, otherwise the virus will continue to mutate.”
Because of the new analysis, the United States decided earlier this week to make the wearing of face masks mandatory again in public places. That may also be an option in the Netherlands, says Rosendaal. “The literature is fairly convincing that face masks make sense.”
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