• cynar@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Unfortunately, due to the nature of COVID, the vaccines aren’t fully effective at stopping infection. The virus is just too effective, and our immune system doesn’t maintain the response required.

    What they do is give the immune system a massive headstart. This vastly reduces the peak viral load. This both reduces the chances of it being dangerous, as well as reducing how infectious you are.bit doesn’t always stop you getting reinfected however.

    • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Vaccines aren’t designed to stop infection. They never intended to.

      The vaccine is intended to get your body familiar with the virus so that when you do get it your body knows exactly how to fight it.

      • cynar@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Depending on the target, vaccines can allow the immune system to eliminate it before it can start multiplying significantly. For things like measles etc, this effect is strong enough to provide effective immunity. Whether vaccines can stop infections depends a lot on how you define infection. They won’t magically stop the virus being able to enter your body. They can stop them from establishing themselves and stop you becoming infectious to others.

        Unfortunately, the coronavirus family viruses are particularly slippery. Even our primary immunity from infection is often short lived. COVID is ridiculously good at both hiding from the immune system, and spreading to new hosts. The vaccine provides significant protection, but isn’t effective enough to provide complete immunity.

        • cooopsspace@infosec.pub
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          10 months ago

          Also basically no country in the world is taking elimination of the virus seriously.

          In fact - Australia’s stance is “get your arse back on the office/school/factory you ugly mug”, and that’s about it.

          • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            That’s because it is unreasonable to take elimination of the virus seriously at this point. It’s like saying no one is taking seriously the elimination of cold and flu. For better or worse, it’s here to stay. Elimination is no longer an option.

            • cooopsspace@infosec.pub
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              10 months ago

              Even then, the one thing we should have got right was that you’re required to take sick leave when you’re positive.

              Yet our government says my colleague is allowed to bring COVID into the office twice in a month, further risking the health of my high risk parents and grandparents. As if that’s even remotely acceptable.

              • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
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                10 months ago

                If you’re sick, you get sick leave in Australia, no? If you get covid, just like if you get a bad cold or the flu, you should take your sick leave. That’s why it exists.

                I’m not even sure what you’re saying at this point. That people should be required to take leave when they’re sick? Yes, obviously…

                So your coworker was sick, and you would like the ability to compel them through some authority to go home whenever you think they’re sick? Or they tested positive, were no longer contagious, and came back? I’m honestly just confused.

                • cooopsspace@infosec.pub
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                  10 months ago

                  They knowingly came to the office with a preventable illness, declared they were positive both times.

                  I’d argue it’s a crime, reckless endangerment.

                  And if they don’t have sick leave, it’s leave without pay. Idgaf, just don’t come.