3 ms·
> the vast majority of viral replications take place in susceptible infected bodies, i.e. predominantly those of unvaccinated individuals. I'm not sure this is
by pdonis 5y ago
> the vast majority of viral replications take place in susceptible infected bodies, i.e. predominantly those of unvaccinated individuals.
I'm not sure this is true, but even if it is, this...
> variants, therefore, mostly arise among unvaccinated.
...does not follow from it. The key thing driving evolution of variants is not number of replications but selective pressure. Selective pressure is much larger in a vaccinated individual than an unvaccinated individual (or at least an unvaccinated individual that has not had COVID and does not have natural immunity).
- kmonad 5y agoSelection can drive evolution, and in a vaccinated body there exist other selection pressures than in an unvaccinated body. Variants which may by chance be suited well to strive in a new environment need to arise first. This will happen only when replication occurs. The unvaccinated population is the major breeding ground for variants, not the other way around.