No value in vaccinating everyone at this stage
THE WEEK|April 25, 2021
The second wave hit India despite the vaccine rollout. And, vaccinated people are now getting infected. The vaccine was never expected to stop any wave, second or otherwise. All the Covid-19 vaccines available in the world right now have this handicap, that they cannot stop transmission of the virus. This is unlike the vaccines for polio or smallpox, which can interrupt transmission and thereby eradicate the disease eventually.
REKHA DIXIT
No value in vaccinating everyone at this stage

The Covid-19 vaccine will only help in reducing the severity of the disease. Thus, the aim of the vaccination programme right now is, firstly, to reduce the proportion of symptomatic individuals, and secondly, to reduce the hospitalisation and death rate.

Most of those who have got infection after vaccination have had mild symptoms, not requiring hospitalisation. Also, they got the infection because they lowered their guard after getting the shots.

With post-vaccination infections, won't the vaccination drive get a setback as people question the point of taking the shots?

This story is from the April 25, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.

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This story is from the April 25, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.

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