Vaccinated people capable of transmitting Delta variant: UK Study

New Delhi : Being vaccinated can ease many problems related to coronavirus, but it still needs you to keep your guards up and stay vigilant against the virus. A new study has revealed that even vaccinated people are capable of transmitting Delta variant of coronavirus.

The Imperial College London study illustrates how the highly transmissible Delta variant can spread even in a vaccinated population.

The researchers underlined importance of taking the vaccine which can save you from severe illness and even emphasized on giving booster shots for maximum protection.

They found infections in the vaccinated cleared more quickly, but the peak viral load remained similar to the unvaccinated.

"By carrying out repeated and frequent sampling from contacts of Covid-19 cases, we found that vaccinated people can contract and pass on infection within households, including to vaccinated household members," Dr Anika Singanayagam, co-lead author of the study, said.

"Our findings provide important insights into... why the Delta variant is continuing to cause high Covid-19 case numbers around the world, even in countries with high vaccination rates."

Imperial epidemiologist Neil Ferguson said that the transmissibility of Delta meant that it was unlikely Britain would reach "herd immunity" for long.

"That may happen in the next few weeks: if the epidemic's current transmission peaks and then starts declining, we have by definition in some sense reached herd immunity, but it is not going to be a permanent thing," he told reporters.

"Immunity wanes over time, it is imperfect, so you still get transmission happening, and that is why the booster programme is so important."