Experts urge people to wear masks even after vaccination
By Yosuke Watanabe and Ayaka Tanaka / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
There is said to be about a 5% risk of developing COVID-19 after receiving two doses of vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical companies Pfizer Inc. or Moderna Inc., which are being used in Japan's vaccination rollout.
The Minato Public Health Center in Tokyo's Minato Ward said Wednesday a survey on 1,478 people whose infections were confirmed between June 16 and July 21 found that about 7.5%, or 111 people, had received one dose of vaccine, and about 1.4%, or 20 people, had received two doses. More than 90% had only mild symptoms, and no one was seriously ill.
Kayo Matsumoto, director of the public health center, urged the public to continue wearing masks and disinfecting their hands even after vaccination.
Vaccinations can reduce the risk of spreading the virus, developing serious symptoms and hospitalization.
Among people who have been infected with the virus, the virus load in vaccinated patients is 40% lower than those who have not been inoculated, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others.
The University of Edinburgh and others said in June that the Pfizer vaccine provides 79% protection against the delta variant after two doses.
"Vaccines protect both inoculated individuals and the people around them," said Tetsuo Nakayama, a specially appointed professor of clinical virology at Kitasato University.
"However, it is important to understand that vaccines do not completely prevent infections, and thorough preventive measures need to be taken even after vaccination."
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