A SENIOR figure at Dorset County Hospital insists people must continue to follow social distancing rules and wear face coverings, even if they have received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Coronavirus cases across Dorset have continued to fall during March and more than 330,000 Covid-19 vaccine jabs have been given across the county.
People who receive one or two jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine are still told to follow social distancing measures and wear masks, with all social restrictions to be lifted no earlier than Monday, June 21.
While the guidance has led to confusion from some vaccinated people, Professor Alastair Hutchison, chief medical officer at Dorset County Hospital, explained that the population must develop herd immunity against coronavirus and jabs continue to be given before the restriction on social contact is lifted.
He noted that people can still transmit coronavirus to others even if they have received the vaccine and are not susceptible to falling seriously ill due to Covid-19.
Prof Hutchison also observed that the likelihood of people developing new strains of coronavirus is higher if more people are infected.
Prof Hutchison said: “It is all about getting to herd immunity and preventing the spread in other means, so we don’t get other variants.
“It is a really important point. We are having people asking if they need to stick to social distancing rules and wearing a mask as they have been vaccinated.
“The answer is absolutely you do.”
Prof Hutchison added that each dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will decrease the risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus. There is also an ongoing SIREN study, which looks into how long immunity lasts against coronavirus.
He noted: “One jab is very good and in particular, it seems to hugely minimise the chance of ending up in intensive care even if you needed to go to hospital and reduces the serious risk of becoming ill.
“Two jabs seem to increase your protection to some degree but most importantly, it prolongs the time you will be immune.
“There is a study across NHS called the SIREN study looking into how long immunity lasts. All health workers have been asked to take part, including me.
“It involves your antibody bodies being checked and seeing how long it will last for. By this time next year, we will have a good idea of how long immunity lasts.”
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