According to a British study found on Thursday, the Delta coronavirus variant can transmit easily from vaccinated people to their household contacts – however, the contacts were less likely to get infected than others if they were vaccinated themselves. 

The study, published by Imperial College London, asserts that the findings do not weaken the premises for getting vaccinated, but rather stressed that it was vital to decrease the effects of COVID-19 by getting booster shots.

Findings showed that the healing process took place more quickly among the vaccinated in comparison to the unvaccinated. 

"By carrying out repeated and frequent sampling from contacts of COVID-19 cases, we found that vaccinated people can contract and pass on infection within households, including to vaccinated household members," Dr Anika Singanayagam, co-author of the study, said. "Our findings provide important insights into... why the Delta variant is continuing to cause high COVID-19 case numbers around the world, even in countries with high vaccination rates."

The study, which recruited 621 participants, grouped 205 household contacts with the Delta variant infection. Results showed that 38% of unvaccinated household contacts tested positive, in comparison to 25% of the vaccinated.

According to the study, those who had contracted the infection while being vaccinated had been vaccinated a long time ago, in comparison with those who had tested negative. To the writers, this represents a decrease in immunity as a need for booster shots may be on the rise.