PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One of the arguments against the COVID-19 vaccine is that it does not work if a vaccinated person contracts COVID-19.
On the surface, it makes sense: If I get COVID-19, the vaccine didn't work. But actually, it worked as designed.
Most vaccines, like the flu vaccine we have received for years, are at best 50% effective. The value of the flu vaccine is that it minimizes symptoms.
The same can be said for the COVID-19 vaccines. These can be as high as 90% effective in the case of the mRNA vaccine, but even in cases where people get the virus, the symptoms are minimal.
The major protection is avoiding hospitalization and ICU. The concern is that if not enough people are vaccinated, variants will develop, which may make the life-saving vaccines less effective.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
