Can you spread Covid after having the vaccine?

Is it still a risk?

The Covid vaccine rollout continues apace across the UK as July 19’s ‘Freedom Day’ looms, with anyone aged 18 or over now able to book themselves a jab.

Over 87% of the country’s adults are now estimated to have had at least one Covid vaccine, while around 66.2% are fully vaccinated.

It’s been reported that the vaccines available in this country – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna – are highly effective at reducing the need for hospitalisation from a Covid infection, as well as reducing your chances of being infected.

Those who have had both doses of a vaccine have also been told that from August 16 they will no longer have to self-isolate if they come into contact with a positive case.

But if you do happen to contract the virus after being jabbed, could you still spread it to other people?

Here’s what you need to know…

Can you spread Covid after having the vaccine?

While having the jab does reduce the risk, there is still a possibility you could catch and spread Covid even after having both doses of the vaccine.

According to Public Health England, those who do become infected after one dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines were between 38% and 49% less likely to pass the infection on to others than those who were unvaccinated.

This protection was seen from around 14 days after the jab was given, once the body has had a chance to develop immunity from the vaccine – as vaccinated people who develop Covid are likely to have a milder form of the virus.

This in turn will mean they have a lower viral load than someone who is unvaccinated – making them less likely to pass it on.

However, it’s worth noting that the risk of catching the virus or spreading it is higher if you have only had a single dose of the vaccine.

Public Health England has said that the Pfizer vaccine was found to be more than 88% effective at stopping the Delta variant of Covid two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine, compared with around 60% for the AstraZeneca jab – while the vaccines were 96% and 92% effective respectively against hospitalisation from the virus.

However, the protection offered after only one dose of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca is much lower, cutting the risk of infection only by around 33%.

It’s thought that the protection levels provided by the AstraZeneca vaccine are lower because that jab takes longer to reach its maximum effectiveness.

Although PHE has not released data on the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine, the company themselves has reported that two jabs of their vaccine is also effective against the Delta variant.

The World Health Organization has said that while the vaccine does reduce the risk of transmission, those who have been fully jabbed should still exercise caution, especially when visiting elderly or vulnerable people.

They recommend you should continue to wear a mask when visiting those at risk, keeping to social distancing measures and washing your hands regularly.

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