That isn’t how mutation works. When we’re talking about viral mutation, it’s based on the number of replications. For every X number of replications, a mutation (mistake) will occur. Most of those mutations will be either neutral or bad for the virus. If one is particularly beneficial (i.e. allowing for more replication), it becomes more dominant by crowding out others.
Every replication is an opportunity for a mutation that benefits the virus. So controlling viral replication is key. Best way to do so is to prevent transmission between people. Each person who becomes infected can see upwards of 100 billion replications happen in their body. If you can block 1 person from getting infected, that’s 100 billion fewer opportunities for a mutation. For those who do get infected, early intervention that limits the number of replications in their body is also helpful. Monoclonal antibody therapy is the most effective available treatment for COVID-19. It’s what they gave President Trump when he was so sick with COVID that he was hospitalized. 24 hours later, he was walking out of the hospital calling monoclonals a miracle cure.
The vaccines help with our goal in two ways. First, they reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 upon exposure. That protection is reduced with the Delta variant, but it’s still pretty good (estimates are all over the place, but most of the literature seems to indicate 60 - 80% efficacy in blocking transmission for Moderna and Pfizer with Delta). The second is that even those who do get infected have a head start on the virus. Their body is already producing antibodies, which help control the infection. Their body just needs to ramp up a bit more to completely clear it. That’s why those who are fully vaccinated and become infected anyway (”breakthrough infections”) tend to have far less severe illness than unvaccinated people, and it clears up much faster.
I am not anti vaccination even for COVID. I do think it is not suitable for everyone and should be reserved mostly for those who are at high risk. I understand the panic about breakthrough cases is just that panic. The actual events are small and do not lead to severe outcomes.
I do know the ways to prevent the spread of a virus is to reduce the number of hosts. That is accomplished by establishing immunity either naturally or through immunizations. Another way is quarantine the sick. There are also viruses that rapidly kill off the local host population preventing further contagion.
I won’t be getting the vaccine. I have adverse reactions to many medications and am taking a wait and see attitude about the shots. I will never understand the refusal of so many to acknowledge the availability of preventative and early treatment. Nor will I understand the dismissal of the actual success of the vaccines even if precautions should be noted.