The U.S is still struggling to keep Covid-19 outbreaks under control, despite having 70% of the adult population (12 or more) vaccinated with one of the available vaccines: Moderna, PfizerBioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson. According to CDC data, recent outbreaks in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, occurred in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Another worrying statistic is that out of 469 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Massachusetts, 74% of the infected people were fully vaccinated. Out of those fully vaccinated individuals, 89% of them were infected with the Delta strain.
The Delta strain is the dominant variant in the U.S
It has been previously proved that even those fully vaccinated with an available Covid-19 vaccine can get infected with the virus. However, their chances of getting the infection are much slimmer, depending on the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some strains have a higher transmissibility rate than others and are much more aggressive. This is the case of the Delta strain, which originated in India last December. From the beginning of July, the Delta strain has quickly managed to become the dominant strain in the U.S, responsible for over 83% of new infections.
Despite recent outbreaks, vaccine drugmakers are adamant about the importance of vaccination
PfizerBioNTech decided to declare for a news outlet that their vaccine is still highly efficient in preventing the Covid-19 infection, even against the Delta variant. Johnson & Johnson decided to support the new federal guidance mask after the CDC recommended wearing masks in public indoor places and at crowded events, regardless of vaccination status.
The Johnson & Johnson Company also declared that the vaccines prevent severe cases of Covid-19 infection, thus avoiding hospitalization and acute symptoms. The outbreak in Massachusetts showed that only 1.2% of the 469 cases require hospitalization.