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“The vaccine protects, but only to complete the vaccination scheme”

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Rapid advance into the world of Delta variant with the consequent increase in infections, it is putting many countries on alert, including Italy. In the week from 19 to 25 July, the areas and territories that recorded cases of this variant, now dominant in Europe, rose to 132. At the origin of its so fast spread, a greater transmissibility, even among the youngest, a shorter incubation time and a greater viral load, genetic characteristics that make it between 50% and 60% more contagious than Alfa. “But – explains to Today theinfectious disease specialist Alessandro Perrella – the respiratory diseases caused by the infection, recorded up to now, in unvaccinated subjects, are not very serious, and the number of hospitalizations and deaths have not, for now, had a significant increase in recent weeks “. There is widespread concern that Covid vaccines currently in use may have reduced their effectiveness against Sars-CoV-2 variants. On this Perrella he reassured: “Vaccines are effective, but to be protected, the vaccination schedule must be completed”. There are also many doubts about the protection that the vaccine confers: “If I get the vaccine, can I develop Covid-19 disease?” , “If I get vaccinated, can I replicate the virus?”, “If I get vaccinated, can I be contagious?”. With the help of the dr. Alessandro Perrella, infectious disease director of the A. Cardarelli hospital in Naples, we tried to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Dr. Perrella, according to the latest WHO report, the Delta variant is the one that is spreading most rapidly, in Europe and in the rest of the world. Are we at the beginning of the fourth wave?

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“It is still premature to talk about the fourth wave, however, what we are witnessing are, probably, the harbingers of this one. Today, we have much more effective tools than those we had at our disposal about a year ago, we can still stop the spread of infections and therefore prevent the virus from having greater opportunities for replication with the onset or spread of further variants or point mutations under the same variant “.

What are the characteristics of this variant? Is it more contagious and lethal than the previous ones?

“It has a greater dissemination capacity. There are still no reports that speak of greater lethality, but, as I suggested before, leaving the virus the possibility of spreading gives it the possibility of further mutations that are advantageous for it ”.

Are respiratory diseases associated with this variant serious? Has the number of hospitalizations and deaths increased in recent weeks?

“The respiratory diseases recorded up to now in unvaccinated subjects are not very serious. However, the inter-individual variability and the fact that at this stage we are still registering younger infected subjects should be considered. The number of hospitalizations, however, has not had a significant increase in recent weeks or an increase in the number of deaths “.

Do Covid vaccines also protect against the Delta variant?

“The anti-Covid vaccines protect against the Delta variant: there are small differences for the additional mutations, but, in general, they protect and confer protectivity with both doses, so it is essential to get vaccinated by completing the vaccination scheme (ie 2 doses for those vaccines which provide for them) “.

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There is some confusion about vaccine protection. Let’s try to clarify:

• If I get vaccinated, can I develop Covid-19 disease? “In a very low percentage, yes, but as a transient and short-lasting infection without the need for hospitalization”.

• If I get vaccinated, can I replicate the virus? “Yes, but depending on some variables, such as the characteristics of the immune system, replication will be more or less low compared to an unvaccinated subject who does not have anti-spike antibodies which – let’s remember – is the viral protein that allows the virus to penetrate into the target cell “.

• What happens to me (when vaccinated) if I come into contact with the virus? How long does it take for the body to eradicate the virus? Can I be contagious within the time the virus dwells in my body? “If (when vaccinated) you come into contact with the virus, the immune system that has already learned to know it and to produce antibodies thanks to the vaccine, will be ready to produce others to prevent the virus from penetrating and developing the disease. This is what happens with all viruses for which you have a vaccine, with differences relating to the virus itself. Let me explain better: when a virus enters the organism of a vaccinated subject, based on his immune system and viral fitness (fitness), transient viraemias will be detectable while awaiting the production of antibodies which, usually, quickly becomes effective in a period of much shorter time than what happens with an infection of an unvaccinated subject “.

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