According to the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT), we will still have corona measures in the autumn of this year that we must adhere to. If we don't, there's a good chance of another wave, researchers say. In addition, there is a new, contagious variant that can throw a spanner in the works.
A new variant in the Netherlands
A few weeks ago, a new corona variant flew over from India to the United Kingdom. This variant is called B.1.617.2. For a short time, however, you can also find these to a small extent in the Netherlands. Research has shown that this variant is a lot more contagious than the variants we already know here. It can even be up to 70% more contagious. This means it can spread very quickly if we don't follow the right measures.A new wave could therefore arise very soon, according to researchers. Especially because they are not yet sure how long the vaccines will protect us against this virus or when new variants will continue to appear.
New corona measures together with vaccines
Still, we don't have to worry too much about the new virus, because the most common vaccines offer great protection. Still, you must have both shots, because, with just one shot, the chance of infection is still about 66%.
It has also recently been shown that after illness, our body is not so well able to make the right antibodies against the virus. However, this is without a vaccine. When you are vaccinated, you can protect yourself much better against the virus. However, we must continue to be careful with the corona measures, especially around autumn. Not everyone has been vaccinated yet, and even if 75% were already vaccinated, the reproductive number is just below 1.0. The OMT, therefore, suggests that we should at least maintain the basic measures.
People without vaccination
According to CBS, about 71% of adults indicated that they would like to be vaccinated at the beginning of this year. 15% are still in doubt. These are fairly low percentages, especially if you know that at least 70% want to be vaccinated to create reasonably successful herd immunity, but preferably 85%.
According to ethicist Babette Rump, there are quite a few free-riders. These are people who benefit from herd immunity and do not have themselves vaccinated. According to her, this also happens a lot with vaccinations for children, but we accept that as a society. However, she wonders whether we also accept this when it comes to the corona vaccines.
According to Rump, many people do not take the vaccine because they think it is a scary thought. A solution for this is to better inform them. The chance of complications after vaccination is simply a lot smaller than the complications that you can have from the virus.
A passport as part of the corona measures?
Chairman of the Dutch Association for Infectious Disease Control Everhard Hofstra finds the discussion about a corona passport very interesting. Many people who do not have themselves vaccinated find this coercion to take a vaccine, but that is not entirely correct. You have the free choice to take a vaccine and traveling is something you do voluntarily. Your rights to this will not be taken away from you.However, the desire for a passport can indicate urgency, because without a negative test or vaccine you are not allowed to travel. According to Hofstra, however, this is a logical consequence because the urge is proportional and you cannot limit the infection in any other way.
If you don't get vaccinated, you will have few consequences. You will still receive adequate medical care and are still free to change your mind. However, corona measures must be maintained to prevent further infections. This also happens with other diseases: nurseries may refuse to join children who have not been vaccinated against measles. That is a safety principle.
Relaxation of corona measures
With corona, it is more difficult to maintain the same measures as with, for example, tuberculosis or measles. It is wise to keep the base until the majority of the population has been vaccinated. In the meantime, relaxation of the corona measures may take place again. For example, the advisory team thinks that secondary schools can open again from June 2, provided all students take a rapid test twice a week.
This could increase the number of infections, but because most elderly people have already been vaccinated around this time, the advisory team does not expect the number of hospital admissions to increase.
