Multiple studies have shown that the vaccines against Covid-19 are not that efficient to the newest Delta variant especially when it comes to keeping us safe from getting infected. However, the same studies have shown that it still very efficient when it comes to keeping us safe from severe condition once a fully vaccinated person gets infected.
On Monday, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that he tested positive on the virus despite being fully vaccinated. In his announcement on Twitter, the tests results were confirmed by the House physician.
“I started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the doctor this morning. I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms. I will be quarantining for ten days. I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now,” he continued. “My symptoms would be far worse.”
Lindsey Graham, who has been vaccinated since December, is one the GOP members who openly supports the vaccine and recommending everyone to get the shot. In a spring visit to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, he even said “the sooner we get everybody vaccinated, the quicker we can get back to normal.”
Graham refused to give a statement to the reporters in front of the Capitol Hill before he announced the Covid-19 results on Twitter. He also didn’t attend the Friday night’s Silver Elephant dinner which is a signature annual fundraiser Republican Party event in South Carolina because of Senate votes.
However, other senators and lawmakers seem to at risk since Graham was also aboard Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s houseboat with a group of lawmakers and senators. This happened before Graham knew he was positive on Covid-19.
Manchin’s office told Fox News that “Senator Manchin is fully vaccinated and following the CDC guidelines for those exposed to a COVID positive individual.”
According to Manchin, house gatherings on his boat are something that happens very often as he brings GOP and Democratic senators to talk about different things. He added that Graham was most of the time ‘outdoors’ and only a dozen people were attending the gathering that night.
Last Tuesday CDC announced new recommendation over mask guidelines asking even fully vaccinated people to wear masks while indoors especially in areas with high infection rate.
A several studies have shown that fully vaccinated people can’t spread the virus even if they get infected, but that is not the case with the very contagious Delta variant. People infected with the Delta variant can carry enough virus in their nose to continue spreading it, recent study shows.
However, health experts and White House officials, including president Joe Biden, are urging people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, claiming the only way to really battle the virus are the vaccines. CDC data shows that majority of the hospitalizations and deaths are coming from unvaccinated folks.
