A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has found that the transmission duration of the Delta variant of the coronavirus is the same for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The study was conducted after an outbreak in a Texas prison, where 95 out of 978 inmates tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR testing. The majority of those who tested positive (82%) were fully vaccinated, while the remaining inmates were either partially vaccinated (2%) or unvaccinated (16%). The study found no significant differences in the duration of RT-PCR positivity or culture positivity between fully vaccinated participants and those who were not fully vaccinated.
According to the study, both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals transmit the Delta variant of the virus for the same duration, with a median transmission duration of 13 days for both groups. The authors of the study caution that healthcare practitioners should consider vaccinated individuals who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 as equally contagious as unvaccinated individuals. However, the study only examined transmission duration and not the effectiveness of transmission.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has also recently updated its risk assessment, classifying the risk of infection as “high” for both fully vaccinated and recovered individuals. Despite this, the RKI emphasizes the importance of vaccination, stating that the risk of individuals becoming PCR-positive and transmitting the virus is significantly reduced even with the Delta variant.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to public health measures, including vaccination, to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
