RESEARCH

A SINGLE dose of vaccine cuts the risk of spreading coronavirus by up to half, a major study has revealed.

Not only does the jab cut a person’s chance of catching Covid, it also greatly reduces their chances of passing it on should they get infected.

The research, which involved almost 1.5million adults, is the first of its kind to confirm the effectiveness of vaccines in curbing the virus’s spread.

Other studies have shown the jab massively reduce the odds of developing symptoms and ending up in hospital, even among the elderly and people with long-term health issues.

The latest analysis found that adults who received the Pfizer vaccine – but still caught the virus – were 49 per cent less likely to spread it to other household members than those who were not inoculated.

For the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, recipients were 38 per cent less likely to transmit it to others in their household. But the fact both vaccines dramatically reduce the virus’s ability to spread – as well as preventing serious illness – offers renewed hope they hold the key to a return to normal life.

This latest research further reinforces that vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic as they protect you and they may prevent you from unknowingly infecting someone in your household. A second dose provides the strongest possible protection.

The jabs’ ability to prevent virus transmission kicked in after only 14 days and they worked regardless of a person’s age or the number of people within their household, with whom they had close contact.

Dr Mary Ramsay, who is head of immunisation at Public Health England, which carried out the study, said: “While these findings are very encouraging, even if you have been vaccinated, it is really important that you continue to act like you have the virus, practise good hand hygiene and follow social distancing guidance.”

Previously, a major Oxford study found that a single dose of either the Oxford/AstraZeneca or the Pfizer vaccine reduced symptomatic infection by nearly three quarters, compared to people who had not had the jab.

The authors were so encouraged by the findings they said the jabs would enable the country to control the pandemic without the need for future lockdowns.

The UK Government has announced that more than 13million adults had received both doses of the jab – a quarter of the population.

Although the researchers only looked at the vaccines’ effectiveness in cutting transmission at home, they believe they will also prevent its spread on public transport, in offices and in schools.