Another point, Amanda, is that with every mutation the variant changes into something more lethal and much, much stronger. There is no going back from it!

You make an excellent follow-up that self-protection is the best defense. Thanks.

Thank you @amandajro for your reply. Exactly, a host is needed for the survival of the virus. Can you please explain how a vaccinated individual cannot be a host when the vaccine does not prevent covid infection? Those are contradicting reports. Very confusing. Am I wrong? Since it has been said the vaccine may only reduce the severity of the illness but not prevent a vaccinated individual from spreading the infection. In a vaccinated individual the virus will meet more resistance for its survival than in a non vaccinated person. That would be a more likely reason for the covid virus to mutate. Logic would make sense in a non vaccinated individual the virus meets less resistance for its survival and therefore less likely for the virus to mutate. In other words, the virus has no reason to develop a harsher strain to keep existing. Please correct me if my thinking is wrong.

Thank you for your feed back. I agree with the web md link to prevent transmission of the covid infection there needs to be no host. Is that ever possible? The links proves a mutation can occur when the virus meets resistance. It comes back more aggressive to combat the resistance hence the vaccines. This is from the CDC website from today: see bottom for a copy.
https://www.cdc.gov
Once again people vaccinated or not need to mask and be socially distant. Seems even the vaccinated need to be cautious for contracting covid infection (no matter how mild) and spreading the infection to others regardless of their vaccine status. It is unfortunate that these vaccines are not preventing the surges. We see it happening in other countries with a high vaccination rate. Makes me wonder how effect it really is besides reducing the severity of symptoms. Surely the severity and contraction makes a difference with each individual’s risk of exposure( depending on lifestyle) and medical history. Reports according to the CDC have shown vaccinated individuals can still be hospitalized for covid infections and some have even died. I know the risks are rare but the fact remains they can occur.