In the Weekend Australian, Cameron Stewart, known Trump hater, wrote that, “an unvaccinated person is five times likelier to spread the virus.” No source for this definitive assertion. Typical of today’s shoddy journalism. I searched and found the likely source. It is a well-publicised CDC study dated 24 August.

The study’s sample was 43,127 infections which occurred in Los Angeles County during the period from 1 May to 25 July. Using outcomes as at 25 July, the study, among other things, concluded that the rate of infections among the unvaccinated was five times (4.9 actually) the rate among the vaccinated. Incidentally, the study confirmed other studies (from the CDC and Public Health England for example) in concluding that the viral load of the vaccinated and unvaccinated is the same.

Of course, you can’t pass the infection on unless you’re infected. But a first point to make is that this is one very narrow and very specific study. And, as with all studies based on a small sample, it may not be representative and may well have flaws.

Second, account does not appear to be taken of the time since vaccination. A sample of people with an average time of two months since the second jab is likely to give a radically different result than if the average was six months, when the effect of the vaccine will have markedly reduced. So, if Mr Stewart feels safer sitting next to vaccinated people, he’d better ask them how long since they were vaccinated.

Making a sweeping statement, as Stewart does, is entirely inappropriate and ill-founded. Most journalists have become Covid whores. They search around for the fattest wallet. In this case for anything which backs their preconceptions and agendas.  Searching for the truth be damned.