West Hoxton, NSW superspreader party becomes case study in effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines

A superspreader party in Sydney has become a case study in the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines.

A Sydney house party that acted as a superspreader event for the coronavirus has also become a case study in the effectiveness of vaccines.

While the majority of the people who attended the West Hoxton party were infected with the virus, those who emerged unscathed had been vaccinated, the NSW Health Minister said.

“I can report that of the more than 30 people that were at that party, 24 of those people are now positive for Covid-19,” Brad Hazzard told reporters on Monday.

“And not one of those 24 people were vaccinated. I could also advise that six health workers who attended at that party, who were fully vaccinated, not one of those people has been infected with (the coronavirus).

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard praised vaccines. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone / NCA NewsWire

“I can also report that there was one aged care worker at the party, who’d had the first dose, and that aged care worker was also not infected at the party.”

While Mr Hazzard cautioned that the fallout from the party was an “unfolding situation”, the outcome so far showed how effective the vaccines were.

“If you’re vaccinated, you are much more likely to not be infected with Covid-19,” Mr Hazzard said.

“So, for those still out there who think that vaccinations aren’t important, they can find excuses not to have vaccinations, they can kid themselves … Short message is: get vaccinated.”

The birthday party in the suburb in western Sydney took place on June 19, three days after the first community case was reported and before the outbreak had prompted any restrictions on gatherings.

Among the partygoers were people from the eastern suburbs who had unknowingly been infected with the Delta strain of coronavirus.

The attendees who have tested positive include a two-year-old child. They also include an adult who travelled to Victoria before testing positive.

Two more infections linked to the party were added to the tally on Monday, bringing the total number to 31. That includes the 24 people who acquired the virus at the party as well as other people who subsequently were infected by partygoers.

A study in the United Kingdom, where vaccination efforts have gone much further than in Australia, has shown both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are highly effective in preventing people from falling seriously ill from the coronavirus.

Health authorities analysed more than 14,000 cases of Delta transmission and found the Pfizer product was 96 per cent effective against hospitalisation for people who have had two doses, and the AstraZeneca version 92 per cent effective.

Another study, in the United States, has shown vaccines can limit coronavirus transmission, but not completely eliminate the risk.