Hot on the tail of better vaccine dissemination are concerns that more contagious SARS-CoV-2 variants are leading to an increase in the number of cases and deaths. The variant that is making the headlines at the moment is the Delta variant (B.1.617.2). The Delta variant is part of the reason India’s healthcare system was overwhelmed recently. What is most noticeable is the fact that both vaccines were only 33% effective against symptomatic disease from the Delta variant three weeks after the first dose. In other words, as the Delta variant cases increase in the community, it becomes even more essential that individuals register and be vaccinated for both doses of their vaccines.

Source: The Star June 29, 2021 00:00 UTC