With the surge in COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom (UK) among the fully vaccinated people, UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance explains that this situation is not very surprising as the vaccines are extremely effective but none are 100% effective. He also said that 40% of people admitted to the hospital with covid are vaccinated with two doses.

He mentions that there are several factors that explain why people are infected after being vaccinated fully with two doses. He explains that even flu vaccines are not always 100% effective. But these vaccines help in preventing mortality every year. 

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In the UK the cases are on the rise, similar to that of the winter wave. But the average number of cases is relatively lower. In the winter wave cases, about 3,800 people were being hospitalised daily, now it is 700 people. Coronavirus infection among those with two doses of vaccine will rise in the coming days.

Older people and people with different health conditions are more vulnerable. Vaccination helps in reducing the risk of infection among highly vulnerable people. But this doesn’t mean that they are completely safe, but are at lower risk.

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Public Health England’s latest data suggests that two doses of vaccines in England will provide 79% protection against symptomatic cases and 96% against hospitalisation. 

Pfizer vaccine is estimated to be 95% and 99% effective in preventing death among those infected with the alpha variant. Whereas the AstraZeneca vaccine is estimated to be 75% and 99% effective against the alpha variant. 

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There is no clear data on vaccines providing protection against death caused by the delta variant because deaths during the third wave have been relatively low in the UK.

Another data that is yet to be reviewed by the scientists suggests that people who are overweight, poor or with health conditions are at higher risk among the completed vaccinated people. 

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The Covid Symptom study has found that regardless of whether people have been vaccinated or not they report the same common symptoms such as headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and loss of smell.