We’re learning more and more about how our vaccines hold up against Delta. I feel like I’m drinking out of a firehose. So, here’s an attempt to get you up to speed… What we knew Last time I updated you (see August 6th post here), the science was telling us four things:
In this post you say the difference is 6 vs 18 days (for v vs uc) but then link to a previous post where you say 9 to 16 days. Would you be able to clear that up?
I appreciate your articles and save them to return to. But what I am still unclear on the viral loads of unvaccinated people who have gotten covid within the past few months relative to vaccinated and unvaccinated. In other words, where do previously infected people fit in terms of risk for other people near in terms of transmission?
Great article as always. Clicking through to the study, it says that for breakthrough infections, "Ct-values decreased throughout the first 3 days of illness". So their viral load increases during those first few days, but are they more infectious during that time? The charts showing presence of infectious virus are not broken down by day, so I am having a hard time understanding the significance of the "Ct-values decreased" finding (which made the abstract so I figure they think it's an important finding).
When you say that the vaccine begins to make a person less contagious after 6 days, do you mean 6 days after exposure? In other words, if I was exposed 6 days ago I might not have become contagious until 4 days ago (hypothetically). Would the vaccine begin to work quickly at the time of exposure, even if the person has not yet tested positive (which also would be why breakthroughs are still uncommon... because the vaccine would prevent them from becoming positive at all) or would it be more like 10 days from exposure?
In other words... when does the "clock" begin to run on contagiousness for a vaccinated person who is unaware that they have a breakthrough (asymptomatic)?
Thank you very much for your efforts! I am wondering if you are able to comment on the group “FLCCC” (Frontline Covid Critical Care or something like that) and the COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols they are publishing. These include ivermectin as a prevention and treatment, as well as a way to reduce transmission. I’m getting lost in the weeds of all the studies they are citing, then found that a major study on ivermectin (out of Egypt) was withdrawn due to data falsification. In my community we have an adult allergist who is discouraging his pediatric patients (who are eligible for Covid vaccine) from getting the vaccine and instead promoting prophylaxis with ivermectin. He cites the protocols from FLCCC. Thank you
It looks to me as though cases in many parts of the nation (with the exception of the South) are beginning to plateau. Do you think this means we've peaked and we will begin to see declines? If so, any thoughts about what happens next and what our time frame might look like to begin to see this surge taper off? I sort of expected that we wouldn't see a decline until the younger kids are vaccinated, but I am hopeful that perhaps something will give a little before then. Thank you!
In this post you say the difference is 6 vs 18 days (for v vs uc) but then link to a previous post where you say 9 to 16 days. Would you be able to clear that up?
I appreciate your articles and save them to return to. But what I am still unclear on the viral loads of unvaccinated people who have gotten covid within the past few months relative to vaccinated and unvaccinated. In other words, where do previously infected people fit in terms of risk for other people near in terms of transmission?
Great article as always. Clicking through to the study, it says that for breakthrough infections, "Ct-values decreased throughout the first 3 days of illness". So their viral load increases during those first few days, but are they more infectious during that time? The charts showing presence of infectious virus are not broken down by day, so I am having a hard time understanding the significance of the "Ct-values decreased" finding (which made the abstract so I figure they think it's an important finding).
Hello, Dr. Jetelina.
When you say that the vaccine begins to make a person less contagious after 6 days, do you mean 6 days after exposure? In other words, if I was exposed 6 days ago I might not have become contagious until 4 days ago (hypothetically). Would the vaccine begin to work quickly at the time of exposure, even if the person has not yet tested positive (which also would be why breakthroughs are still uncommon... because the vaccine would prevent them from becoming positive at all) or would it be more like 10 days from exposure?
In other words... when does the "clock" begin to run on contagiousness for a vaccinated person who is unaware that they have a breakthrough (asymptomatic)?
Thank you!
Thank you very much for your efforts! I am wondering if you are able to comment on the group “FLCCC” (Frontline Covid Critical Care or something like that) and the COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols they are publishing. These include ivermectin as a prevention and treatment, as well as a way to reduce transmission. I’m getting lost in the weeds of all the studies they are citing, then found that a major study on ivermectin (out of Egypt) was withdrawn due to data falsification. In my community we have an adult allergist who is discouraging his pediatric patients (who are eligible for Covid vaccine) from getting the vaccine and instead promoting prophylaxis with ivermectin. He cites the protocols from FLCCC. Thank you
Thank you so much Katelyn for your nonstop selfless work.
Thank you for this information, as always.
It looks to me as though cases in many parts of the nation (with the exception of the South) are beginning to plateau. Do you think this means we've peaked and we will begin to see declines? If so, any thoughts about what happens next and what our time frame might look like to begin to see this surge taper off? I sort of expected that we wouldn't see a decline until the younger kids are vaccinated, but I am hopeful that perhaps something will give a little before then. Thank you!
I haven't heard anything about vaccine updates for Delta recently -- do you have any idea how soon are we likely to have Delta specific boosters?