Here is what you need to know about why Delta variant causes more breakthrough infections, and what we need to do to stop it.
Why Delta Variant Causes MORE Breakthrough Infections!
The Delta variant of COVID-19 (B.1.617.2) was first documented in India, in October 2020. Hence, it was earlier known as the Indian variant.
Everyone’s worried about the Delta variant of COVID-19, and rightly so – it is much more infectious and has shown to be partially resistant to vaccines.
The Delta variant is about 60% more infectious than the already highly-infectious Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), and is behind the massive wave of infections in India in April and May of 2021.
I will now show you why the Delta variant causes much more breakthrough infections than even the Alpha variant, using 22 May 2021 and 14 June 2021 data from Public Health England.
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Protection Against Symptomatic COVID-19
The Pfizer vaccine offers very strong protection against symptomatic COVID-19, but only after two doses. It offers very little protection against the Delta variant with a single dose.
The AstraZeneca vaccine only offers partial protection against symptomatic COVID-19, even with two doses. And like the Pfizer vaccine, it offers very little protection against the Delta variant with a single dose.
This is why breakthrough infections will be significantly higher with the Delta variant.
| COVID-19 Variant |
Pfizer | AstraZeneca | ||
| 1 Dose | 2 Doses | 1 Dose | 2 Doses | |
| Alpha (UK) | 50% | 93% | 50% | 66% |
| Delta (India) | 33% | 88% | 33% | 60% |
Protection Against Hospitalisation
But the good news is that both vaccines offer robust protection against hospitalisation! In other words, you may get COVID-19, but it will be mild enough that you do not need to be hospitalised.
Even with a single dose, the Pfizer vaccine offers excellent protection against hospitalisation with the Delta variant.
The AstraZeneca vaccine requires two doses to offer similar protection against hospitalisation with the Delta variant.
A single dose of AstraZeneca still leaves you with a high chance of getting COVID-19 severe enough to require hospitalisation.
This is why it is CRITICAL to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
| COVID-19 Variant |
Pfizer | AstraZeneca | ||
| 1 Dose | 2 Doses | 1 Dose | 2 Doses | |
| Alpha (UK) | 83% | 95% | 76% | 86% |
| Delta (India) | 94% | 96% | 71% | 92% |
How To Prevent Breakthrough Infections With Delta Variant?
Now, while the Pfizer vaccine offers great protection against the Delta variant, I should point out that it is still not 100% protective.
The Delta variant is highly infectious, and you can still get infected with repeated exposure. So please do NOT be complacent.
Here are steps that we can take to prevent breakthrough infections with the Delta variant :
- Make sure we are FULLY VACCINATED – complete the require doses
- Avoid crowds and public, enclosed spaces
- Social distancing as much as possible
- Wear a face mask in public, making sure to wear and take it off properly.
- Maintain physical distancing in public
- Maintain good hand hygiene
This will be necessary until we achieve herd immunity. So please encourage everyone to get vaccinated, and make sure they get both doses (if they are getting a 2-dose vaccine).
Recommended : COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough : What You Need To Know!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
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