Two weeks after the second dose of COVID-19, the human body is more prepared to fight the invading virus but it does not guarantee safety. No vaccine has 100 percent efficacy as of today. The vaccination prepares the body to fight invading virus and protect it from very serious consequences like being in an ICU and getting on ventilators. Vaccination can also protect us from getting infected in a flight . Safety issue is more complicated if it involves a10 or 20 hour international flight.
“There are three factors to consider,” according to Dr. Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, USA who studies the airborne transmission of COVID-19.
First, according to Dr. Marr, how prevalent is the virus in the surrounding area. If a group or community is filled with infection then your chances of getting it go up. You may think that if one has been vaccinated then he is totally free of any danger. But that is not the case. Even best of vaccines have only 95 percent efficacy, meaning that out of 1 million people vaccinated, 50,000 can still be infected. Dr Marr also says that a mask is still important to avoid infection from people after vaccination. The CDC says that when vaccinated people come in contact with infected persons and then go near healthy people, they can become carriers even if they do not get ill themselves and infect others.. We still do not know everything about this virus.
Vaccinated or not, any travel should be avoided according to experts including Dr. Marr.
Vaccination reduces risk greatly but does not eliminate it. Plane, bus or train brings people in closer proximity and increases risk of contamination. Ten- or twenty-hour international flights are riskier. Mask is recommended and many times required to be kept on at all times. Eating or drinking can be done only by taking mask off and that puts a person at risk of infection.
HEPA, or “high efficiency particulate air” filters are fitted in new planes.All large commercial airliners have built-in HEPA filters to sanitize the breath passengers exhale. This air is mixed with cooled “bleed air” brought in through engines and fed into cabins. This is the third safety measure that Dr. Maar says is important to keep infection at bay. The HEPA filters remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Covid-19 is between 0.06 to 1.4 microns, meaning HEPA protect us from the virus.
Plane toilets should be used to a minimum. It is advised not to move much in plane to avoid contact with other passengers, keep distance and do not use any plane blankets or pillows. They also advise to keep small sanitizer bottle of 70 percent alcohol content to disinfected seat, headrest, front of your seat and plane ventilation points over the seat.
Small planes without HEPA filters or air-conditioned rooms and railway train cabins with many people should be prevented in the fight against COVID-19. HEPA technology may be not affordable for many. International commercial carriers can afford it. This may be the biggest challenge that small planes or airconditioned Indian Railway cabins may face as efficient filtering system against COVID-19.
It is tempting to use air conditioners in car in hot and humid environment in Indian weather. That can be risky if the driver is not a family member living with passengers. Car windows should be rolled down 2-3 inch to let fresh air in.
Non-essential travel should be avoided according to experts like Dr. Fauci, the CDC director. Vaccinated or not, we must keep our guard until every citizen is vaccinated and that is a difficult goal with more infectious variants coming out every day from far away corners of the world. Post Star needs your voice. We welcome your on-topic commentary, criticism and expertise.
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