In Ireland we have, today, rates substantially lower than the peak in January. The variant prevalent in January was far less infectious, and most stuff was closed in January (there was a sort of timid partial reopening of some pubs and restaurants the previous November, which was reversed at the end of December, no events with over 50 people were allowed, everyone was still told to work from home where possible, etc). Now we have a much more infectious variant, almost everything is open (though people were advised to work from home where possible last week), and the rate is still lower.
That actually looks like reasonable evidence that the vaccine _is_ somewhat effective at lowering the R number, to me. At any rate, something is clearly reducing infection; despite a much more infectious variant, and far, far more social mixing, the R number is lower than it was in January.
In Ireland we have, today, rates substantially lower than the peak in January. The variant prevalent in January was far less infectious, and most stuff was closed in January (there was a sort of timid partial reopening of some pubs and restaurants the previous November, which was reversed at the end of December, no events with over 50 people were allowed, everyone was still told to work from home where possible, etc). Now we have a much more infectious variant, almost everything is open (though people were advised to work from home where possible last week), and the rate is still lower.
That actually looks like reasonable evidence that the vaccine _is_ somewhat effective at lowering the R number, to me. At any rate, something is clearly reducing infection; despite a much more infectious variant, and far, far more social mixing, the R number is lower than it was in January.