[hpoe]

I've heard that but then why do people say we need to get vaccinated to protect the most vulnerable members of society if the vaccine isn't actually slowing the spread and doesn't prevent infection?

EDIT:

To be clear I already had COVID and didn't have any serious symptoms so the argument about a hospital bed doesn't necessarily apply to me. Beyond that I actually got vaccinated, my question centers around the disparity of treatment we are giving individuals who are vaxxed and those who are not if both are capable of spreading. Further it brings in the question of vaccine mandates if they are much less effective then we were led to believe.

[johnchristopher]

> I've heard that but then why do people say we need to get vaccinated to protect the most vulnerable members of society if the vaccine isn't actually slowing the spread and doesn't prevent infection?

Why are you (and others) thinking that since vaccines aren't 100% effective it doesn't help protecting other people ?

What kind of dissonance cognitive gets you there ?

Why are you blind to the fact that a vaccine that mostly works still help reducing infections and why do you equate that to "vaccines don't work to protect others (since some vaccinated people can still infect others) so I shouldn't get vaccinated" ?

How come you are working from a yes/no, full-or-nothing angle ?

A glass of water won't 100% quench your thirst when you haven't drunk in a long time so you won't take it ?

[heavyset_go]

If you're vaccinated and become infected, you will have less of a viral load, and thus will spread less viral particles to others. The duration of infection will also be much shorter, thus lessening the time you can spread the infection to others. The vaccine also prevents some, but not all, infections in the first place.

You're also less likely to take up a hospital bed that someone who is more vulnerable than you needs.

[maxerickson]

The vaccines do prevent infections and slow the spread. They just don't prevent all infections.

[bbatchelder]

Vaccinated people are between 60-80% less likely to infect others, and they are infectious for less amount of time.