Single shot of Covid-19 vaccine lowered viral load by 40 per cent, study shows

Those infected with Covid-19 after receiving their vaccine shots are likely to have a lower viral load and experience shorter infection times with milder symptoms, new research showed.

According to Jeff Burgess at the University of Arizona: "If you get vaccinated, about 90% of the time you're not going to get COVID-19.

"Even if you do get it, there will be less of the virus in you and your illness is likely to be much milder."

Of 3,975 participants from two studies, five who had been fully vaccinated, 11 who were partially inoculated and 156 who had not received a shot became infected.

Among those who had received one or two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the viral load was 40% less than for unvaccinated people.

The length of the infection among those who had received one or two vaccine doses was one week, against two or more weeks for the unvaccinated.

The research, which was conducted between 14 December and 10 April showed that fully vaccinated participants were 91% protected against SARS-CoV-2 and those with one shot by 81%.