TORONTO – About 7,000 Americans and 450 Canadians who were fully vaccinated have died of Covid-19. Among Americans, the death of Colin Powell, the former secretary of State – who died on Monday from complications from Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated – shocked everyone. A news that has been around the world and that has given the opportunity to the experts to explain why this can happen and why the vaccine is extremely important as it protects oneself and others from the disease. 

In Powell’s case, he was 84 and suffered from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that reduces the body’s ability to fight infections. And it is precisely this ability that is the key to everything: anyone with a compromised immune system is still at risk. “When we hear about some fully vaccinated people dying, doubts arise about how the vaccine works,” said to Globalnews Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto. “But we know that those who are vaccinated have a much, much, much less chance of getting sick and dying than those who are not vaccinated.”

The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that fully vaccinated individuals are 79% less likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19 and 62% less likely to die from the disease. Only 5% of deaths occurred in fully vaccinated people, according to the agency’s data.

The cases are affirmed for a variety of reasons, says Dr. Don Vinh, an infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at McGill University Health Center. “Immunity after vaccination – he explains to Globalnews – may decrease over time. Another factor is that some people’s immune systems are not that strong. There are groups of people who have conditions or treatments for their conditions that have compromised their system. immune system and they also respond adequately to the vaccine “.

Older people may have weaker reactions to the vaccine, says Dr. Rod Russell, a professor of virology and immunology at Memorial University. “In older people – he says to Globalnews – there is a possibility that they may not be able to fight the infection if they catch it.”

However, “even those who are not elderly and do not have a weakened immune system should get vaccinated,” Vinh adds.

“We live in a society, we do not live in isolation”. Being vaccinated “reduces the risk for all communities – concludes Russell – and helps protect vulnerable people”.

Pic by Wilfried Pohnke from Pixabay