Thread by @GovindPersad

This is valuable reporting but there's a lot in here that's confusing. Would the Post or the CDC consider just publishing the slide deck?

1/
washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07…

"there is a higher risk among older age groups for hospitalization and death relative to younger people, regardless of vaccination status"
- but surely what should matter is whether vaccination reduces absolute risk for one or both groups, not risk relative to one another?
2/

"there are 35,000 symptomatic infections per week among 162 million vaccinated Americans"
- not sure how to think about this. Seems a lot lower when you think of it as 3.5/wk out of every 162,000.
- what should we expect given a very effective vaccine but high exposure?
3/

"Although it’s rare, we believe that at an individual level, vaccinated people may spread the virus, which is why we updated our recommendation"
- but who thought breakthrough infections never transmit?
- the question is how often ("rare") vax'd people are infected & spread
4/

"the vaccines are not as effective in immunocompromised patients and nursing home residents, raising the possibility that some at-risk individuals will need an additional vaccine dose"
-very important, but boosters/KN95s might be more relevant than cloth mask guidance
5/

I think universal masking is wise to reduce spread, especially in areas with hospitals at risk of being overwhelmed. But I'm surprised to see vaccination being described as purely "personal protection." There's a spectrum between 0% transmission reduction & 100% reduction
6/6