But this view is far too simple.
In the USA, a total of 10 262 COVID-19 cases were reported in vaccinated people by April 30, 2021, of whom 2725 (26·6%) were asymptomatic, 995 (9·7%) were hospitalised, and 160 (1·6%) died.
In Germany, 55·4% of symptomatic COVID-19 cases in patients aged 60 years or older were in fully vaccinated individuals,
and this proportion is increasing each week. In Münster, Germany, new cases of COVID-19 occurred in at least 85 (22%) of 380 people who were fully vaccinated or who had recovered from COVID-19 and who attended a nightclub.
People who are vaccinated have a lower risk of severe disease but are still a relevant part of the pandemic. It is therefore wrong and dangerous to speak of a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Historically, both the USA and Germany have engendered negative experiences by stigmatising parts of the population for their skin colour or religion. I call on high-level officials and scientists to stop the inappropriate stigmatisation of unvaccinated people, who include our patients, colleagues, and other fellow citizens, and to put extra effort into bringing society together.
References
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How the unvaccinated threaten the vaccinated for COVID-19: a Darwinian perspective.
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Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections, including COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections, associated with large public gatherings—Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021; 70: 1059-1062
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COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections reported to CDC—United States, January 1–April 30, 2021.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021; 70: 792-793
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Wöchentlicher Lagebericht des RKI zur Coronavirus-Krankheit-2019 (COVID-19)—14·10·2021—aktualisierter Stand für Deutschland.https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Situationsberichte/Wochenbericht/Wochenbericht_2021-10-14.pdf?__blob=publicationFileDate: Oct 14, 2021Date accessed: October 18, 2021
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Münster: Inzwischen 85 Infizierte nach 2G-Party im Club.https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/westfalen-lippe/corona-infektionen-clubbesuch-muenster-100.htmlDate: Sept 20, 2021Date accessed: September 23, 2021
Via https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02243-1/fulltext