The Delta variant is on track to become the dominant type of coronavirus in the US, raising concerns that the outbreaks could affect unvaccinated people this fall.
A new study shows that the Delta variant is associated with almost twice the risk of hospitalization, compared to another variant, Alpha. The Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), which is "contagious" and more contagious than the original new coronavirus strain, became the dominant strain in the US this spring.
Right now, about 10% of Covid-19 cases in the US can be attributed to the Delta variant. But that percentage is doubling every two weeks, according to Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner. He said the Delta variant would probably take over as the dominant coronavirus type in the US
"I think in parts of the country where you have less vaccination there is a risk that you could see outbreaks with this new variant," Gottlieb said.
Meanwhile, studies suggest that those who are fully vaccinated have protection against the Delta variant. Early findings suggest that two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine protect against the Delta variant - but may have a lower level of protection than against the Alpha variant. The vaccine was found to offer 79% protection against infection from the Delta variant, compared to 92% against the Alpha variant.
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine offered 60% protection against Delta variant infection, compared with 73% protection against the Alpha variant. This lower effect of the vaccine may indicate that it takes longer to develop immunity with Oxford-AstraZeneca.
Source: CNN
