This catchy thread is spreading across social media. Originally, someone answered it from a (flawed) governmental perspective (and by government I'm assuming CDC, but even this wasn't clear). Nonetheless, I thought it might be useful to answer from an accurate epidemiological perspective...
"If I get vaccinated":
1. Can I stop wearing the mask?
Epidemiologist: Yes, once everyone’s vaccinated or we reach herd immunity
2. Can they reopen restaurants, pubs, bars etc and everyone work normally?
Epidemiologist: Yes, once everyone’s vaccinated or we reach herd immunity
3. Will I be resistant to covid?
Epidemiologist: Yes
4. At least I won't be contagious to others anymore
Epidemiologist: Correct, it stops ~60-70% transmission by reducing viral load
5. If I am vaccinated, can I stop social distancing?
Epidemiologist: Yes, if you’re with other vaccinated people
6. If I am vaccinated, can I stop disinfecting my hands?
Epidemiologist: Yes, but we probably should keep washing hands regardless. It's a good habit to get into.
7. If I vaccinate myself and my grandparents, can we hug each other?
Epidemiologist: HELL YES
8. Will cinemas, theatres and stadiums operate as per normal thanks to vaccines?
Epidemiologist: Yes, thanks to vaccines or herd immunity
9. What is the benefit of the vaccine?
Epidemiologist (which agrees to the original “government response”): The virus won't kill you
10. Are you sure it won't kill me?
Epidemiologist: Yes
11. If statistically the virus won't kill me anyway (99.7% survival rate) ... Why would I get vaccinated?
Epidemiologist: This is purposefully misleading. Not everyone has a 99% survival rate; and even if you do survive, the long term effects are damaging.
12. So if I get vaccinated, I can protect 100% of people I come in contact with?
Epidemiologist: Not 100%. But, your viral load will be significantly reduced and it's much less likely that you'll spread COVID19 with the vaccine than without the vaccine.
13. Can you guarantee that I won’t experience adverse affects from taking the vaccine or die from the vaccine itself?
Epidemiologist: (first off it’s adverse EFFECTS) but, no we can’t protect you from rare, temporary adverse effects of the vaccine. But you won’t die from the vaccine itself (there haven't been any documented cases where this has happened yet and 231 million doses have been distributed worldwide)
14. Since you’re encouraging every American to get vaccinated then when people experience severe adverse reactions, long term effects (still unknown) or die from the vaccine will they or their families be compensated?
Epidemiologist: Maybe, we do have a vaccine injury program in the United States. But, I honestly don’t know much about this program.
15. How long does the vaccine last?
Epidemiologist: So far, 9 months (but that’s because we have 9 months of data from natural infections, we are at the mercy of time, this is likely much longer). But the vaccine won't last long if the virus continues to mutate (and we need new vaccine formulas).
So to summarize, the Covid19 vaccine...
Does give immunity.
Does eliminate the virus.
Does prevent death.
Does not guarantee you won’t get it. (This is true, there is a small chance you may still get it, but it will certainly be more mild)
Does stop you passing it on (about 70% of the time)
Does eliminate the need for travel bans (eventually).
Does eliminate the need for business closures (eventually).
Does eliminate the need for lockdowns (eventually).
Does eliminate the need for masking (eventually).
Love, YLE
Thank you so much for your post! Your words are so amazing. You do for me with epidemiology what I try to do for my students with math: make it easily understandable and digestible. Thank you so so much!
If you have time I do have one question. My husband and I just got vaccinated(yay!!). We have a child, who obviously can’t be vaccinated yet, and a whole lot of family who want to see her since we have been super strict and haven’t seen any family since last March. So I obviously know that until we reach herd immunity bringing her around family who are not vaccinated is still a no. But what about family gatherings where all the adults are vaccinated but all the kids are not? Has there been any guidance in those areas?
I very much appreciate your clear, calm, explanations. You are serving an important need.