Thread by @VincentRK

When all is said and done, COVID vaccines have taken the sting out of COVID.

This is seen in cases versus deaths in UK: Deaths lower this time around even though cases skyrocket. Vaccines work.

Also seen in the US but not as striking as in the UK probably because a) heterogeneity: some states are doing like UK, some worse; b) we are not as well fully vaccinated (60% vs almost 70% UK); c) UK had a bigger death toll in January; d) they are ahead of us in the omicron wave.

This is even better illustrated in countries that are much more fully vaccinated than the US or UK. Note how deaths have stayed low with recent waves even as cases went up.

Doesn't mean COVID is not a menace or that it can't cause problems.

Doesn't mean vaccines alone will solve the problem. We need masks and other precautions

Doesn't mean we know what the future (or the next variant) may bring.

Doesn't mean our vaccination rates are adequate.

All it means is that vaccines work, if we take them, and they greatly reduce severity of COVID. Without vaccines we would have lost a huge number of lives.

Also note, right now fully vaccinated means 3 doses (if 3 doses are available in your country and age group).

One of the biggest concerns now is omicron. Much more contagious than delta. And we cannot underestimate it. It can spell trouble because all those mutations make it evade immunity from prior infection or vaccine. And it may not be all that mild.

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1471777316225310729

See below from @carlzimmer

https://twitter.com/carlzimmer/status/1471678046570795008

Linking to important tweet relevant to this thread. @carlzimmer

https://twitter.com/carlzimmer/status/1471678046570795008