COVID-19 vaccine

I HAVE done literary searches on the subject, one such site is appended.

A letter writer has posed the question as to the possibility of opening our borders, without quarantine, now that vaccines are available against COVID-19. In the short to medium term, I would be very much against this move based on the following.

That the vaccines “work” is beyond dispute, but exactly how they work, how long they work for, and their “effectiveness” is unclear.

Firstly, most are about 90 per cent “effective”. Does this mean that after vaccinations have been completed, 10 per cent of those vaccinated, have no protection at all? If this is the case, will they have been issued a vaccination certificate? Clarification required here.

It is unclear how vaccines work. Do they completely protect the person from contacting COVID-19 at any time, or do they destroy COVID-19 completely in an infected person rendering them safe from infecting others? Another likely scenario is they mitigate the COVID-19 symptoms of infected persons, but leave them capable of infecting others? That scenario brings into question the validity of certificates.

Obviously, as the vaccines have not had lengthy trials, it is going to be difficult right now to assess how long the vaccines will be effective for.

Given the opportunity, I would be very pleased to get vaccinated. However, in terms of border opening based on vaccination certificates, there is yet sufficient knowledge to justify proceeding with this. Certainly, Fijians must be protected first.

As the question has been asked, the Health Ministry should respond.

ALLAN LOOSLEY

Tavua

To the medical and border teams, thank you. ALLEN LOCKINGTON

Kava Place, Lautoka