Health official says vaccinated individuals are believed to be less infectious
COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ)
Health officials say the COVID-19 vaccine could make you less infectious and less likely to become severely ill if in contact with the virus.
Dr. Randall Williams, Director of Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services, told ABC 17 that those who have been vaccinated are believed to be less infectious than those who are not.
“We believe those people who have been vaccinated have a much decreased viral load in their nasal cavity and that they are less likely to be infectious,” said Williams.
The COVID-19 vaccines are effective
Dr. Laura Morris, a family physician, and Co-Chair of MU Health Care’s COVID-19 Vaccine Committee says she's treated patients who contracted the virus in November and are still struggling with symptoms. Some of her patients have still not been able to return back to work after almost 3 months of battling COVID-19.
“Weak muscles and exercise intolerance, so they can’t go to work, you know they work as a teacher for example and they go to work for 4 hours and they have to lay down. They get short of breath when they walk a flight of stairs and it’s not something we can fix.”, said Dr. Morris.
Dr. Morris says she encourages those who are eligible for the vaccine to get signed up, as contracting a severe case of COVID-19 is a major risk. Morris says the vaccine will help to prevent a person from experiencing critical illnesses caused by the virus.
“What the vaccination will do will make it less likely that you will get seriously ill, less likely that you will be hospitalized and also hopefully less likely that you’ll pass that virus on to somebody around you.”, said Dr. Morris.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both not 100% effective. Pfizer is 95% effective and Moderna is 94.1% effective. There is still a chance that one could contract the virus even after getting vaccinated. Dr. Morris says she hasn't seen or heard of any patients within her system that have gotten COVID-19 after getting vaccinated, but it is possible. She says the vaccine will help someone to experience a very mild case of COVID-19 instead of a life-risking case.
“So any patient who gets infected after they received the vaccine is much less likely to be seriously ill much more likely to have a mild version of COVID.” , said Morris.
According to the state's COVID-19 dashboard, 680,951 Missourians have at least received their first dose of the vaccine, this makes up about 11.1% of the state's population.
Those who have received their first dose of the vaccine are advised by health officials to continue to social distance and wear masks. People are not considered fully vaccinated until at least after one week of receiving their second dose of the vaccine. Dr. Morris says people should wait until they are considered fully vaccinated before trying to reunite with family and friends.
“Be choosy about who you let in your bubble vaccinated folks hanging out with other vaccinated folks is the safest way to go for sure.”, said Dr. Morris.
