Fully vaccinated people protected against Delta variant, but Houston doctor urges caution

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – In the state of Texas, the COVID-19 positivity rate is now 10%. Just a month ago, on June 16, the positivity rate was 2.85%.

In fact, the state has not seen a 10% positivity rate since late February. However, the positivity rate is still lower than it was in January, when the rates were close to 21%.

SEE ALSO: As delta variant spreads, Texas COVID test positivity rate exceeds 10% for first time since February

Statewide hospitalizations are also seeing a significant month-over-month increase. Fortunately, hospitalizations in Texas are still down 79% when you compare the numbers for mid-July to those for January. Doctors attribute the rise in cases to the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Due to the increase in cases, should you wear a mask indoors if you are fully vaccinated?

Dr James McDeavitt, executive vice president and dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine, said that if you are fully vaccinated you are protected against serious illness. Still, he recommends people avoid crowded places indoors.

“When you walk into an environment, take a break, look at it, ask yourself, ‘Does this sound safe? Will I be spending long periods of time face to face, shoulder to shoulder, shoulder to shoulder “with other people?” If you are, put on or put on your mask and try to keep your distance, ”McDeavitt said.
If I am vaccinated, should I be concerned about contracting COVID, given the highly transmissible Delta variant?

McDeavitt said all the data shows that if you are vaccinated you are very unlikely to get sick or end up in the hospital.

“The data is a bit mixed as to your protection against the coronavirus,” he said. “Israeli data indicates that you are probably 60-70% protected instead of the 92-93% we used to quote. So it may mean that you are more likely to catch the virus, vaccinated, but if you do, you are unlikely to get really sick. “

SEE ALSO: 13 Areas with more COVID-19 deaths and fewer vaccines surveyed

Should you be concerned about breakage cases?

McDeavitt said we are seeing more breakthrough cases than before, but again the vaccine will protect you against serious illness.

He said if you’re taking a two-dose vaccine, make sure you get that second dose. It is essential to ensure protection against the Delta variant.

“If you are vaccinated I wouldn’t be too worried about this because, again, all the data indicates that you are unlikely to get seriously ill,” McDeavitt said.

SEE ALSO: 99.75% of Houstonians who die from COVID have not been vaccinated, doctors say

Do i need a reminder?

McDeavitt said at this point a recall appears premature.

“We haven’t really demonstrated yet that this immunity has started to wane dramatically, so the immunity is still pretty good,” McDeavitt said. “The other point I would like to make is that the Pfizer booster is the same vaccine you received last time. It is no different. It is not made against the Delta variant.”

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