COVID-19: Delta infections produce similar virus levels regardless of vaccination status, early analysis suggests | UK News

Coronavirus levels in people with the Delta variant are similar whether or not they have been vaccinated – and this “may have implications for the infectivity of people,” suggests a preliminary analysis.

Public Health England (PHE) said early findings suggested that “virus levels in those infected with Delta who have already been vaccinated may be similar to levels found in unvaccinated people.”

“This may have implications for the infectivity of people, whether or not they have been vaccinated,” he added.

He warned that this was an “early exploratory analysis” and more focused studies were needed to confirm that was the case.

The Delta variant, which originated in India, remains dominant in the UK and accounts for around 99% of cases, PHE said in its last variant briefing.

The latest hospitalization data confirms again that vaccines, while offering high levels of protection, are not 100% effective.

Of recent admissions for the virus, 808 (55.1%) were unvaccinated, while 512 (34.9%) had received both doses of a vaccine, PHE said.

“We must also remember that vaccines do not eliminate all risks: it is always possible to get sick with COVID and infect others,” said Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency. .

An update on a “variant under investigation” was also given in the PHE briefing.

VUI-21JUL-01, or B.1.621, was reported by the health agency on July 21 after apparently spreading to several countries and also producing mutations.

There were 37 confirmed cases in England as of August 4, PHE said.

Cases have been detected in six English regions, most of them in London.

“There is preliminary laboratory evidence suggesting that vaccination and previous infection may be less effective in preventing infection with VUI-21JUL-01,” PHE said.

“However, this data is very limited and more research is needed. There is no evidence to suggest that VUI-21JUL-01 is more transmissible than the dominant Delta variant.”

PHE has currently identified four variants of concern (COV) and 10 variants under study (VUI).