The vaccination campaign against the SARS-CoV-2 virus began in the U.S in December 2020, when nurse Sandra Lindsay received the first dose of the PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Sandra Lindsay received her first shot in New York, a city that was one of the most affected cities during the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. President Biden wanted the country to reach the 70% goal by Independence Day, but the vaccination campaign started to slow down. However, the newest CD data show that the milestone was reached this week.
It is not all great news
Although 70% of the U.S population has received at least one dose of one of the COVID_19 available vaccines, health officials believe it is still not enough to achieve herd immunity. Recent articles quote several doctors and health officials explaining that in order to reach the so-called herd immunity, it would be necessary for at least 80% of the U.S population to be fully vaccinated. Another issue is that vaccination rates are uneven, and in some states, the vaccination campaign is going at a slower pace. This means that outbreaks are still possible due to low vaccination rates in certain areas.
CDC’s most recent guidance suggests the Delta strain is highly dangerous
According to the most recent CDC guidance, even those fully vaccinated should wear masks in public indoor places and in crowded spaces, such as events and ceremonies. This recommendation comes after researchers discovered that vaccinated people infected with the Delta strain of the coronavirus have similar viral loads to those unvaccinated. This means that the vaccines are less effective when it comes to the Delta strain, but fully vaccinated people have reported mild symptoms, and most of them did not require hospitalization.
The pressure is on for the U.S Government
There is still a lot of pressure on the U.S Government to carry on the vaccination campaign and help local authorities convince their residents. The beginning of the school year might also be a time when outbreaks can occur in communities with lower vaccination rates, and the U.S Government organized pop-up vaccination clinics and has offered several benefits for those who decide to get any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines. Some of the benefits include paid leave for those who get vaccinates, partnerships between schools and pharmacies and more.