5 new things we learned about COVID in September 2021

What we know about COVID-19 seems to be changing by the minute.

This is understandable, given the massive scale of the pandemic. More than 233 million cases have been confirmed worldwide since the start of follow-up. And even now – as we move closer to two full years of life with the pandemic – the virus and the means to combat it are still relatively new to the medical world, so researchers are learning as they go.

The amount of information available on the coronavirus is staggering. It is difficult to keep track of what is known, what is a myth, and what advice to follow. That’s why HuffPost rounded up five of the most important new things we learned about COVID-19 in September.

After fairly public and confusing back and forth trips, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration both announced their official recall guidelines in September. They’ve been quite reduced from what the Biden administration announced in August, when it suggested all Americans would be eligible for boosters starting this fall.

Instead, here’s who is eligible for a third booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine right now. (Federal regulators have yet to weigh in on a third dose of Moderna or a second dose of Johnson & Johnson):

• If you are 65 years of age or older, or live in a long-term care facility and have received two doses of Pfizer vaccine, you should receive a Pfizer booster.

• If you are between 50 and 64 years of age with an underlying medical condition, you should receive a Pfizer booster.

• If you are between 18 and 49 years old and have an underlying disease, you may receive a Pfizer booster.

• And if you are between 18 and 64 years of age and have a job that puts you at increased risk of exposure and transmission, you may receive a Pfizer booster.

Despite the confusion leading up to the announcement, it appears there has been a demand for a booster dose. In the first weekend after the new guidelines were released, around 400,000 booster doses were given, the Biden administration said – and more than a million people have scheduled their third dose.

In another big news on the vaccine front, Pfizer released data in September suggesting that two low doses of its vaccine are safe and very effective in children aged 5 to 11.

Pfizer has since submitted its data to the FDA and is expected to officially seek clearance in a few weeks, although it is not known exactly how long the agency will take to review the data.

Still, some experts are hoping young children will start to roll up their sleeves before Halloween.

The main health benefit of COVID-19 vaccines is that they are very effective in preventing people from getting really sick or dying from the virus.

But a new study published in September found an additional health benefit: People who get vaccinated may see their mental health improve.

After a single jab, people were less likely to show signs of moderate to severe depression, and even people who had not yet been vaccinated, but intended to receive the jab, saw their well-being. general mental increase.

In recent years, experts and the general public have really come to understand better that mental health is just as important to general well-being as physical health, and the pandemic has certainly placed people in a state of profound stress. . So, the mental health benefit of vaccination is an added bonus that experts say we shouldn’t dismiss.

A study published in September looked at an incident in which the delta variant passed through a Texas prison, infecting three-quarters of those incarcerated there – most of whom were fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccines. But while the study clearly showed that break-ups can occur, especially in high-risk environments where people spend a lot of time together indoors, it also offered positive news.

Only one person who has been vaccinated and caught COVID-19 has been hospitalized, once again showing that vaccines largely prevent serious illness.

And the lowest rate of serious illness was among those who were fully vaccinated and who had also previously been infected with COVID-19. This is why groups like the CDC have long recommended that people get vaccinated, even if they have already had COVID-19.

Since the delta became the dominant variant, experts have been working to better understand how well our current vaccines are resistant to breakthrough infections and serious illnesses. But new data released by the CDC in September showed that vaccines continue to prevent serious illnesses caused by COVID-19 – including the delta variant of the virus.

Research from real data on infections and outcomes after the delta takeover has shown that unvaccinated people have more than 10 times the risk of being hospitalized and more than 10 times the risk of dying compared to those who are fully vaccinated. This is just another reason for people who are eligible and have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated.

Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is what was known or available at the time of publication, but directions may change as scientists find out more about the virus. Please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most recent recommendations.