What is the Delta Variant?
Are you concerned about the Delta variant of COVID-19?
With multiple approved vaccines available in many parts of the world, there's reason to hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be in our collective rearview mirror. At the same time, however, experts are warning that a new strain called the Delta variant could threaten to undo the progress that's been made thus far.
Read on to learn what the Delta variant is and whether you should be concerned.
What is the Delta variant?
The Delta variant (also known as B.1.617.2 variant) of COVID-19 was first identified in India in December 2020. After spreading rapidly through India, it then spread rapidly through Great Britain. It has now spread to continental Europe and across much of the U.S., becoming the dominant strain in the U.S. as of July 2021.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the Delta variant the "fastest and fittest" version of the COVID-19 virus, as it seems to spread more rapidly than other variants and to be more contagious.
Dr. F. Perry Wilson, a Yale Medicine epidemiologist explains:
"In a completely unmitigated environment—where no one is vaccinated or wearing masks—it’s estimated that the average person infected with the original coronavirus strain will infect 2.5 other people. In the same environment, Delta would spread from one person to maybe 3.5 or 4 other people.”
Are vaccinated people at risk from the Delta strain?
Based on what is known now, it seems that fully-vaccinated people have protection against the Delta strain. However, a single dose of a two-dose vaccine, such as those offered by Pfizer and AstraZeneca, is not effective.
Will vaccinated people need a booster shot to protect against Delta?
Maybe. It's too soon to know whether a booster shot modified to target the Delta variant (or any other variant) will be needed. With that said, Israel has already begun administering a booster shot of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine as of this week, and Pfizer has also met with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss obtaining approval for its booster shot in the United States.
It's worth noting, however, that Dr. Anthony Fauci says he does not believe a booster shot is needed to ensure protection against Delta for fully-vaccinated people.
Are unvaccinated people at risk from the Delta strain?
Yes. Delta spreads easily among unvaccinated populations. As a result, communities with low vaccination rates - such as Southern and Appalachian states - are at greater risk of hyperlocal Delta outbreaks.
Sound off in the comments: Are you worried about the Delta strain?
—Lorelei Yang
(Image Credit: iStockphoto.com / BlackJack3D)
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I am very concerned that there are still so many unvaccinated people in the United States despite the high infection rates caused by the delta variant. State governments, local governments, and businesses need to create more rules for people to get vaccinated or work from home/get regularly tested out of their own pocket to prevent more infections. The United States also needs to continue to send more vaccines abroad to ensure that there is health equity and that the millions of people in lower income countries can have access to vaccines.
People cannot be forced to take the vaccine, but they should be harshly restricted in their activities if they choose not to. You cannot be forced to yell "fire" in a burning theater, but you sure can be pushed out of the way for the common good.
Viruses will mutate!!
A virus mutates !
Everyone with 1/2 a brain should be extremely concerned about Covid and it’s variants, Delta and Lambda. Period. The 1/2 brain requirement leaves out the Texas Three Stooges. Does excuse them just holds them less culpable for their consistently incredibly stupid choices. #FtheTexasThreeStooges.
More abject stupidity from Greene! Greene's comment — which, again, claimed that the 'question' itself violated HIPAA — was entirely inaccurate. Journalists are not banned, barred, or bound by HIPAA from inquiring about anyone's health status or their vaccination status. It's up to the individual to whom the question is posed to decide whether or not to answer. HIPAA does not ban journalists from asking about health information. Indeed, if it did, then the law would almost surely have been met with a vigorous First Amendment challenge." "People have to reveal medical information all the time. HIPAA does not grant each American medical patient a universal shield against the passing of medical data. "Employers have a legal right (to) question whether job candidates are fit for service. Schools can ask bus drivers whether they can see properly with or without corrective lenses. Airlines can ask pilots whether they have a history of seizures. Railroad engineers can be required to take drug tests. Warehouses can ask applicants if they can lift boxes of a certain weight. Firefighters and police officers are required to prove physical fitness. Medical examinations are often attached to such employment. HIPAA does not ban the asking of such questions or the gleaning of such data."
Rand Paul: The epitome of the arrogance of ignorance. … … … I admire Dr. Fauci’s restraint for not taking Rancid out behind the barn and loosening a few more of his teeth. How does Rancid get re-elected, ever?
Carina and Jody should be sued for defamation by Dr. Fauci.
@Jodi; go back home and get more home schooling! Your lack of 3rd grade intelligence is stunning! Trump is a criminal and a liar, yet you stand behind his statements! Do you believe anyone has died from Covid-19??? Oh yeah, I forgot it’s fake news!
Bravo, Dr. Fauci for bitch slapping Rancid Paul. Tell it like it is. Don’t put up with his posturing and falsehoods.
jimK: Rancid Paul….lol perfect name love it!
File Under: "Don't pay attention to what they say; instead, watch what they do." It looks like FOXNews, the corporate business is VERY concerned about COVID making those who follow the opinions of the likes of Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingram look like total fools. "Fox has quietly implemented its own version of a vaccine passport while its top personalities attack them" CNN Business Oliver Darcy, CNN Business Updated 1:09 PM EDT July 20, 2021 New York Highlight: "Tucker Carlson has called the idea of vaccine passports the medical equivalent of "Jim Crow" laws. And other Fox News personalities have spent months both trafficking in anti-vaccine rhetoric and assailing the concept of showing proof of vaccination status. "But Fox Corporation, the right-wing talk channel's parent company, has quietly implemented the concept of a vaccine passport as workers slowly return back to the company's offices." https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/19/media/fox-vaccine-passport/index.html
It's here! "Delta variant accounts for 83% of new cases in US, CDC director says "A cluster of midwestern and southern states have emerged as new hotspots" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/20/delta-variant-us-covid-increase-cdc-director?
Lambda Variant “COVID-19 VARIANT Houston Methodist reports 1st case of Lambda variant” https://abc13.com/lambda-variant-houston-method-covid-19-cases-in-texas-delta-coronavirus-vaccinations/10898138/
The world has the right to be concerned about the Delta variant of Covid. Rand Paul should be forced to apologize to Dr. Fauci for arguing ignorant (Rand's) information. I applaud all lawmakers that show support for Dr. Fauci for saving so many American lives. Please, support facts. Florida needs everyone to agree on saving lives. Do not support ignorance.
And now this... "Twitter suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene over 'misleading' Covid posts" Sadly, it’s merely for 12 hours, but there’s hope: “Twitter has repeatedly banned users for shared misinformation, and in March it introduced a new policy with penalties for users. “Under the new rules, 12-hour suspensions are given for second and third violations of its policy. A fourth violation results in a week-long suspension, and a fifth leads to a ban.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57897401
DW Coronavirus Digest: “Melbourne extends lockdown amid delta outbreak” "Nearly half of Australia's population remains under lockdown as Melbourne and Sydney detect new cases. Singapore advises unvaccinated people to stay home and Germany's incidence rate rises." Follow DW for the latest.** https://p.dw.com/p/3wfyN
We need a little of Great Britain's "stiff upper lip" as we figuratively wail away on America's Most Dense with the stick and adopt Vaccine Passports. " It is goodbye carrot, hello stick as jab rollout slows " "It finally happened. After months of urging young people to do the right thing, Boris Johnson tossed away the carrot and firmly picked up the stick. With the air of a disappointed father, the Prime Minister said vaccine passports will be required by law for the first time in England in an attempt to drive up Covid jab uptake among the young. He announced that everyone who goes to a nightclub from the end of September will have to show proof of having received two doses of a vaccination. He also opened the door to the potential use of Covid passports at concerts, theatres and sports matches. Science Editor Sarah Knapton says it was inevitable after polls warned young people were far less likely to take up vaccination than older generations. As Mr Johnson addressed the nation by video link from Covid isolation, Britain ground to a halt amid the raging "pingdemic". Michael Deacon says he "looked like Churchill declaring victory from the bowels of an air raid shelter". See Vaccine passports: Boris Johnson drops the carrot and picks up the stick https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/19/vaccine-passports-boris-johnson-drops-carrot-picks-stick/ "Vaccine passports to push young into getting Covid jabs" https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/07/19/nightclubs-legally-forced-adopt-covid-passports-end-september/
Pfizer recently announced it was seeking authorization to make booster shots available. For some reason instead of welcoming it and promising to prioritize its evaluation, and outline its use to doctors and the public, it was seemingly shot down by someone in our government and fronted by Dr. Fauci. The previous administration was right when it accused Fauci of burying the lede; fairly or not, he tried to forstall a run on masks by misleading the public. This leaves numerous unanswered question as to why the Pfizer booster is delayed in the US. As it is, the USA isn't in the top ten of health care providers. While the better advice is to consult one's doctor, not every doctor seems equally interested, well informed or willing to comment. Israel seems concerned with different classes of patients including those with autoimmune diseases including some form if rheumatism (see below). “Dead Last: U.S. Health Care System Continues to Rank Behind Other Industrialized Countries” https://www.citizen.org/article/dead-last-u-s-health-care-system-continues-to-rank-behind-other-industrialized-countries/ Therefore we MUST continue to question the state of the staffing, leadership and reliability of CDC & FDA Post Trump six months into the Biden Admin. See Opinion | Covid Vaccine Booster Shots Are Coming. Are they Needed? - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/18/opinion/covid-vaccine-booster-shot.html Highlight: "Ultimately, the question of whether a booster is needed is unlikely to determine the F.D.A.’s decision. If recent history is predictive, booster shots will be here before long. That’s thanks to the outdated, 60-year-old basic standard that the F.D.A. uses to authorize medicines for sale: Is a new drug “safe and effective”? "The F.D.A., using that standard, will very likely have to authorize Pfizer’s booster for emergency use, as it did the company’s prior Covid-19 shot. The booster is likely to be safe — hundreds of millions have taken the earlier shots — and Pfizer reported that it dramatically increases a vaccinated person’s antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. From that perspective, it may also be considered very effective." Also GREAT BRITAIN Britain starts planning for vaccine booster shots from September" https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-starts-planning-vaccine-booster-shots-september-2021-06-30/ Highlight: “The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that there should be a plan to offer COVID-19 booster vaccines from September, starting with people 70 years old, care home residents and those who are immunosuppressed or vulnerable. “Britain has given 85% of adults a first COVID-19 shot, with more than 60% receiving two doses.” ISRAEL Israel is administering COVID booster shots. Who qualifies to get one? - The Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-is-administering-covid-booster-shots-who-qualifies-to-get-one-674250 GERMANY "Moderna hopes to deliver COVID vaccines to Germany faster - report" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moderna-hopes-deliver-covid-vaccines-germany-faster-report-2021-06-24/
Concerned? Anyone? Anyone? "Delta variant fears send Dow tumbling more than 700 points in worst one-day decline of 2021 "Global markets fall sharply amid growing anxiety about surging coronavirus cases and their potential to derail the economic recovery." https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/07/19/markets-stocks-today-delta-variant/ Vaccinate. Vaccinate. Vaccinate. We need to help others around the country and around the world get vaccinated.