Texas Medical Center discusses the latest trends in COVID-19 data and the impact of the Delta variant

HOUSTON – Texas Medical Center hosted a brief discussion on the latest COVID-19 trends, breakthrough cases, and the impact of the Delta variant in the Houston area.

TMC invited Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, President and CEO of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr Paul Klotman and President and CEO of Texas Medical Center Bill McKeon to join the discussion.

McKeon said hospitalization rates at Texas Medical Center have increased 90% and the positivity rate is increasing.

“We are clearly seeing the start of a fourth wave of this pandemic, which is alarming at best,” he said.

Klotman said the increase seen by the medical center is a result of the emergence of the Delta variant in the US and UK. He said the variant originated in India, saying it was more contagious and deadly. He said eight weeks ago there was a very small percentage of the Delta variant in the United States. Now it is between 60 and 70% of what is circulating.

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“The good news, and this is great news for us, is that the mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are effective in neutralizing this virus. It’s not as effective for the UK virus, but there is about 85% efficacy in preventing serious disease with mRNA vaccines, ”Klotman said.

He said unvaccinated people are more likely to contract the Delta virus. Unvaccinated people now make up the majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19. Klotman also spoke of breakthrough cases, i.e. a fully vaccinated person who contracts the virus, saying there is a very small number of breakthrough cases – between 5% and 15%. He said none of the vaccines were 100% effective or completely protected a person from the virus.

“We predict, even though it says it’s 95% effective, that 5% of people are going to be infected, even if they’ve been vaccinated,” Klotman said.

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Dr Hotez said that with more masks not worn, TMC is seeing a spike in cases, which typically occurs two weeks after a big event where people congregate. He said TMC was still learning about the Delta variant, but noted that it is spread by vaccinated and unvaccinated people because the variant works so differently.

“I was okay with their (CDC) recommendations, but now, while it’s true that Delta is spread in much more abundance by unvaccinated and even vaccinated individuals, we may have to think about revisiting that and that means vaccinated individuals will want to consider wearing masks indoors in an area with high transmission, ”Hotez said.

Dr Klotman said authorities are seeing a drop in the average age of COVID-19 patients and reports of younger populations contracting the virus.

McKeon said data from hospitals shows they are seeing emergency rooms busy as of late, even with issues unrelated to COVID-19 due to the removal of masks.

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Watch the full discussion below: