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Regulator reports fully vaccinated people do not spread COVID-19

*The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s study may make it easier for people to resume normal lives

*An ongoing trial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine confirms it is ‘highly effective’ against COVID-19 and its variants for half a year after the second dose

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

People who are completely vaccinated hitherto have been advised to continue wearing nose masks and stay six feet apart to protect others from Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

However, a fresh study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that may be unnecessary.

It was learnt that previously, researchers were unsure if fully vaccinated people could somehow carry the virus and spread it to others, even if they did not get sick.

The researchers studied thousands of fully vaccinated first responders, and have now concluded that it is highly unlikely that vaccinated people can carry the disease, said the CDC.

The authors of the study wrote: “Authorised mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in real-world conditions.

“COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all eligible persons.”

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, also explained on MSNBC, that “vaccinated people do not carry the virus, they don’t get sick.

“That’s not just in the clinical trials, but it’s also in real-world data.”

The study focused exclusively on the mRNA vaccines, those produced by Moderna and jointly by Pfizer and BioNTech.

Though the study did not include people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, the same principle may apply, the CDC report said.

Stressing that if you one is not infected, one cannot spread it, the researchers determined that if you aren’t infected with the virus and are vaccinated, you can’t spread it to others who have not been vaccinated.

“So, can fully vaccinated people toss their face masks in the trash? The CDC isn’t quite ready to say that.

The health agency has not issued new guidance on how vaccinated people should behave in public. Until it does, the current policy is that the vaccinated population should continue to mask up in public and take other precautions.

But the CDC study is evidence that the day when things start getting “back to normal” may not be that far off.

Trial shows Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is effective for 6 months

In a related development, although the future updates will help determine the actual duration of the vaccine’s protection, an ongoing trial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine has confirmed that it is “highly effective” against COVID-19 (as well as variants of the virus) for half a year after the second dose.

ConsumerConnect gathered the companies Thursday, April 1, 2021, said data from more than 12,000 vaccinated participants showed that the vaccine was still protective six months later, demonstrating a “favourable safety and tolerability profile.”

Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in a statement said: “These data confirm the favourable efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine and position us to submit a Biologics License Application to the U.S. FDA.

“The high vaccine efficacy observed through up to six months following a second dose and against the variant prevalent in South Africa provides further confidence in our vaccine’s overall effectiveness.”

According to the drugmaker and vaccine producer, the study is ongoing, and those involved will continue to be evaluated after another six months have passed.

For now, Pfizer and BioNTech have confirmed that the vaccine remains more than 91 percent effective against COVID-19 with any symptoms for six months.

Meanwhile, the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech also appeared to protect vaccine recipients against the South African Coronavirus strain, B.1.351 ─a variant that was previously believed to evade the protection of vaccines.

Pfizer and BioNTech stated: “The vaccine was 100% effective against severe disease as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 95.3% effective against severe COVID-19 as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“In South Africa, where the B.1.351 lineage is prevalent and 800 participants were enrolled, nine cases of COVID-19 were observed, all in the placebo group, indicating vaccine efficacy of 100%.”

Pfizer’s CEO said the promising data positions the company to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA), or an application for full approval, to the Food and Drug Adminitrsation (FDA).

Bourla added: “The high vaccine efficacy observed through up to six months, following a second dose and against the variant prevalent in South Africa provides further confidence in our vaccine’s overall effectiveness.”

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