CDC urges consumers to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

As the rollout of COVID-19 shots continues, the CDC has recently published a study showing that getting just one dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines provides up to 80% immunity. 

But, despite this good news, the agency has warned that, even though these are effective in preventing the virus, it’s important people still get a second vaccine as it gives better protection. 

In a press briefing last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that there are still concerns that the first dose alone won’t provide enough protection, particularly among the most vulnerable. 

“We have been concerned, and still are, that when you look at the level of protection after one dose, you can say it’s 80 percent, but it is somewhat of a tenuous 80 percent,” he said.

He went on to explain that, as new variants continue to circulate around the world, a single shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine may not be enough to stop COVID-19 from spreading and that following the official guidance remains the best route out of the situation. 

In the last week, there have been some positive updates in the US on the vaccination front. In addition to the study that was released, the CDC has also discovered that the chances of fully vaccinated people spreading the virus to those that are unvaccinated are very low.  

This study looked at 4,000 workers in healthcare and other essential sectors and found that, after two doses of the vaccine, people couldn’t spread the virus to others. 

Additionally, research from Pfizer and BioNTech into the efficiency of vaccines in young people found that it was highly effective in adolescents and children. 

These findings should give consumers confidence in the efficacy of these treatments. And, health officials say it’s more important than ever for people to get both doses going forward if we’re to make progress.