As the vaccine rolls out and more people feel comfortable enough to return to many of the new normal that we are still feeling out, there are some dark clouds on the horizon. The number of people getting vaccinated daily is slowing down, which means that soon, the people who have not yet got the vaccination are going to be those who do not feel comfortable enough, for one reason or another, to get it within the year. This can be dangerous, because if there are enough of these people, there is a clear path of people who will be open to new infections. Among these new infections is a variant of Covid-19 that is being called the Delta Variant. This version of coronavirus is more dangerous and easier to transmit from host to host than the original counterpart, Delta is a strong possibility to take over as the dominant strain of coronavirus in the U.S. before this is all over.
A set of factors, from the entrance of the Delta variant into the U.S. in counties across the country, to the reduction of restrictions that have been put in place by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have created a very dangerous situation. If not enough people are vaccinated by the time that the Delta Variant reaches every state and county in the country, we will probably see a return to the older more comprehensive restrictions that we have had to deal with over the past year. This is not anyone’s idea of a good time, but it may become necessary if the variant cannot be stopped before it spreads too far. Thankfully, there is some good news as well. Both Moderna and Pfizer have reported that their own vaccine doses are effective against the new strain, which means that those who get the vaccine are protected both from the original Covid-19 and the new Delta variant. That said, unlike the over ninety percent effective rate that Pfizer has claimed with their vaccine against the original Covid-19, the new Delta variant is only stopped eighty-eight percent of the time two weeks after the second dose. This shouldn’t be too much cause for concern, but again, this is only more of a reason to get the vaccine as soon as you possibly can, or at least, make sure that the friends and family you have know the importance of getting a version of the vaccine.
As we have learned more, mortality rates and long term issues that have come from coronavirus have become much less of a problem, but there are other deeply troubling issues. The number of cases of coronavirus is far outpacing the number of vaccination rates in some parts of the world, which can lead to places and areas that are hotbeds for new variants to appear, some of which would inevitably be able to ignore the immunity given by vaccination, which could spiral across the world once more. That is why it is so important to get the vaccine, but not only that. Inform yourself and your family about the possible risks, as well as the number of cases for Covid-19 and the Delta variant in your area, so that you can be better informed as to your actions and needs. The WHO recommends that those who live in areas with a high frequency of the Delta strain wear masks and respirators, even if they have already been vaccinated. We all want to go back to normal, but that will only happen if we can take a step back and remember to Mask Up!