Dear all,
in slide 5.6 of the first class, in "Factual considerations - Evidential basis against the policy", I wrote "A. vaccines do not sensibly reduce transmission". One of your colleagues (whom I deeply thank), objected to this contentious interpretation of the evidence. However, let me explain three things:
1. I'm merely indicating the possible evidence against the policy. I'm not personally committed to this interpretation of the evidence; this would be beyond the point. I'm just presenting an argument. I caveated the point with a "sensibly".
2. I don't think it's irresponsible, for whatever reason, to give this kind of information to students. On the contrary, I think it's irresponsible to lack transparency and not clarify that scientists disagree on many evidential issues.
3. The evidential basis for this claim (I know of) is cited below:
Brown CM, Vostok J, Johnson H et al. 2021. Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2021; 70(31);1059–1062
[preprint] Eyre DW, Taylor D, Purver M et al. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on Alpha & Delta variant transmission. medRxiv 2021.09.28.21264260; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.28.21264260
[preprint] Riemersma KK, Grogan BE, Kita-Yarbro A et al. 2021. Shedding of Infectious SARS-CoV-2 Despite Vaccination. medRxiv 2021.07.31.21261387; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.31.21261387
[preprint] Elliott P, Haw D, Wang H et al. REACT-1 round 13 final report: exponential growth, high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine effectiveness associated with Delta variant in England during May to July 2021. medRxiv 2021.09.02.21262979; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.02.21262979
Jaafar R, Aherfi S, Wurtz N et al. Correlation Between 3790 Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction–Positives Samples and Positive Cell Cultures, Including 1941 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Isolates. Clin Infect Dis 2021 72(11):e921.
Chia PY, Ong SWX, Chiew CJ et al. Virological and serological kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant vaccine-breakthrough infections: a multi-center cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021 Nov 23:S1198-743X(21)00638-8.
[preprint] Shamier MC, Tostmann A, Bogers S et al. Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections in health care workers. medRxiv 2021.08.20.21262158; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.20.21262158