VANCOUVER, B.C. – Early evidence shows the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of transmission in long-term care residents and healthcare workers by 80 per cent.
The British Columbia Centre For Disease Control looked at COVID-19 cases in vaccinated long-term care residents and healthcare workers between December 2020 and February 2021.
Dr. Danuta Skworonski, Influenza and Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Team Lead conducted the surveillance-based study. Findings were released on the CDC website on February 19th.
Researchers found a significant drop in the number of cases among vaccinated people, starting around 14 days after vaccination. The findings included a reduction in hospitalizations and deaths in long-term care residents.
Researchers compared the risk of COVID-19 in the first 10 days after vaccination to the risk two weeks beyond vaccination. The comparison showed 80 per cent or more vaccine effectiveness.
Put another way, a single vaccine dose could potentially prevent at least eight out of ten cases of COVID-19.
Data shows that 60 per cent of COVID-19 related deaths in British Columbia have come from long-term care facilities.
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