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New evidence is emerging this week highlighting the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 71% of coronavirus infections between May 1 and July 25 in Los Angeles County were among the unvaccinated, compared with around 25% among those fully vaccinated. and about 3% in partially vaccinated. vaccinated.
The study found that unvaccinated people accounted for five times as many infections and 29 times as many hospitalizations than their fully vaccinated peers on July 25.
There are also signs that unvaccinated people tend to engage in behaviors more likely to spread the coronavirus, while vaccinated people more often take actions that reduce the risk of transmission.
A study conducted by USC in conjunction with the LA County Department of Public Health found that in a cohort of 1,200 adults, unvaccinated people were more likely to go out to bars and clubs, visiting friends and family at home and attending gatherings, while being vaccinated. people were more likely than unvaccinated people to wear face masks and avoid large gatherings or shake hands.
Analysis
Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, said the CDC study is important because it is among the first to examine the effectiveness of vaccines against the Delta variant, especially in a county as well. bigger than Los County Angeles.
“The way you interpret the data is both [cases in vaccinated people] infections increased – no doubt – but that during this phase of Delta, the benefits of the vaccine increased dramatically, ”Topol said. “The benefit of the vaccine is about 30 times, compared to two or three times before Delta.”
Compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people, much lower percentages of fully vaccinated people infected with COVID-19 have been hospitalized, admitted to an intensive care unit or required mechanical ventilation, according to the study.
The researchers said the results indicated that the vaccines protected against infection and severe COVID-19 even during a period when transmission of the Delta variant was increasing.
“On the hospitalization side, the protection is still very strong,” Topol said. “The benefit of vaccination is striking, more than ever. “
Go forward
Experts have stressed the importance of vaccinating as many people as possible and continuing to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus. The Delta variant is highly transmissible, and a fall thrust driven by waning immunity and more time spent indoors is always possible.
There are signs that the latest wave in California is slowing down.
But the Delta Peak leaves California in a precarious position.
Dr Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco, said the current numbers are still among the highest since the devastating wave of fall and winter.
“It’s like walking a tightrope at a high level, so if we fall we could fall hard,” Chin-Hong said.
Vaccination numbers
To date, nearly 65% of LA County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 56.5% are fully vaccinated, according to the Times tracker.
Unvaccinated older people – 50 and older – are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized than their vaccinated counterparts, and unvaccinated young adults are 25 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are fully vaccinated in this group. ‘age.
“If you are not vaccinated you are at great risk – a lot of risk of being in the hospital and a lot of risk [of] die, ”said Barbara Ferrer, LA County Public Health Director. “And that includes young people who are not vaccinated as well as the elderly, who are always more at risk with this virus of having a bad result.”
Application of vaccination
In recent weeks, hospitals have described unsustainable conditions amid a wave fueled by the Delta variant, and county officials hope Monday’s historic approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could lead to a wave of vaccinations – either through more warrants or by encouraging some who are reluctant to get vaccinated.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and remains the most powerful tool we have available to reduce our risk of infection and protect us against serious illness and death from COVID-19 if infected,” said the Dr Muntu Davis, LA County Health Officer, adding, “We are grateful to the many scientists and researchers who have worked tirelessly to develop and evaluate vaccines during the most difficult public health crisis of our lives. “
The Pfizer vaccine is the first of three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States to receive FDA approval.
All three vaccines, including those from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, were working under emergency use authorization. Monday’s FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine applies only to people 16 years of age and older, although further approvals are expected in the coming weeks.
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