I don't have any symptoms, so even if Covid is something I have, I won't give it to anyone.It is wrong. It is wrong. Although people who do not get Covid symptoms are less likely to contract the virus, they may still be more susceptible to it.Another thing to consider is that symptoms can peak a day or two before people feel ill.People who feel completely fine are more likely to get out and about than people who feel sick. This means that people with Covid, whether they have symptoms or not, can help spread the disease.According to one study, people who don't have symptoms are responsible more than half the new infections.Don't assume that just because you feel good, you don't pose a risk for others.Because I'm double jabbed, I won't transmit or pick up the virus.This is false. Many cases have been documented of people who have had their vaccines up to date getting Covid. While most have not needed hospitalization, Andrew Marr, for example, felt awful for several weeks. Studies of Indian and Vietnamese health workers have also shown that people who are vaccinated can pass the virus to one another.The vaccines can protect you from serious illness, but they are not as effective at keeping you infected. The Imperial REACT study suggests that vaccines can prevent infection by between 50% and 60% depending on whether or not you experience symptoms.Recent data shows that people who have been vaccinated do not get the same viral load as those who aren't, but they also clear the virus quicker in the initial stages.Vaccination is a way to prevent infection and transmission. However, it's not perfect. You can't assume you wont get sick and that you wont spread the virus to others.I have had Covid before so don't need the vaccineCovid provides some protection against getting infected again. It is not as effective as the vaccine. The protection that you receive from vaccination lasts longer than the immunity from new viruses. If you have had Covid already, vaccination will give your immunity an additional boost.Double-vaccinated people who have had Covid are the best at protecting themselves. Only problem is that you must wait 28 days after you have tested positive for Covid before you can get vaccinated.I don't need the vaccine because I have a strong immune system.A good immune system is definitely better than a poor one. Even though people are usually healthy, they can still become very sick from Covid. Even with mild initial illnesses, we know that between 10% and 30% of adults can develop long-term Covid.It's not about you. While you might not get Covid, and may be able to get it under control or have no symptoms, who are you? It is possible to come in contact with vulnerable persons at the grocery store, on public transport, when visiting family, or at the pub. They owe us a duty to try to prevent ourselves from getting infected.If children get Covid, they are fineWhile children are less likely to become severely ill or have long-term Covid than adults do, both can happen. One in 200 children who have been diagnosed with Covid are admitted to hospital. A few weeks after getting Covid, children can develop multisystem inflammation syndrome. This can lead to serious complications that require intensive care. It is extremely rare and only affects about 30 children for every 100,000 who have Covid.It is unknown how many children develop persistent Covid symptoms and long-term Covid. Different studies have provided different estimates, ranging from 2% up to 8%.Although these rates are lower than those of adults, they are still higher than the average for children. With ongoing high levels of infections in children (especially as they return to school and remain unvaccinated), even 2% is quite high.Since April 2021, there have been more that 420,000 cases among 0-19-year-olds and more than 2000 hospital admissions for children with Covid.Masks dont workNow we know that Covid is mostly spread via airborne means. People breathe, talk, shout, and sing. While masks are not perfect, they can stop your breath from hitting another person's face while you interact with them.Masks are worn to protect our breath, not to protect us.You need to make sure you are protecting yourself and others by purchasing a high-quality mask that fits well. Protective masks that are more effective include N95, FFP2 and FFP3.A recent study found that mask-wearing is associated with a decrease in transmission rates of around 20%. While this is not perfect, it is still significant.This wave will be the finalEach wave has been called the "last" by headlines. They were wrong. They are wrong. Experts predict that infections will rise as we enter autumn and winter.You could argue that it is all part of one wave because infections are unlikely to drop below the next surge. However, the reality is that we will be experiencing high levels of infection for many months. It remains to be seen how high, long-term and how bumpy this will all turn out.Finally, if there is a new virus that is more transmissible that Delta, or does a better job infected people vaccinated, it will alter the game, just like Alpha did in May and Alpha did in December. This scenario would result in another, more severe outbreak.Although we don't know the likelihood of this happening, Covid will continue to be a global problem for months or even years. We can't be certain that this will be the last wave, which is why it is so crucial to get everyone vaccinated.Christina Pagel is the director of UCL's Clinical Operational Research Unit. This unit applies advanced analytical methods for problems in health care.
