4 ms·

My understanding is that while prevent infection using the vaccine is a big goal, the other more important goal is that it triggers a better response in people

by ssully 6y ago

My understanding is that while prevent infection using the vaccine is a big goal, the other more important goal is that it triggers a better response in people when they do get sick. Specifically, if you get the vaccine and then go on to catch the virus, your body will fight it better and you will have minor symptoms (and hopefully don't go to the ICU). I will say that everything I've said is just from what I read. If someone with an actual medical background knows more, I would love to hear it.

gizmo686 6y ago
That is my understanding as well, but it is entirely irrelevant to the point being made. If someone on the anti-vax margins get the vaccine and proceeds to get sick and test positive, the are more likely to say "the vaccine doesn't work" compared with "I would have gotten more sick if I wasn't vaccinated". You also wont here all the stories of people who got the vaccine and proceeded to not get sick; so there is a sampling bias to hearing about cases where the vaccine doesn't work as well. The concern here is about the longterm PR of vaccinations, not the technical benefits of the vaccine.