Five things to know:
- The delta variant has a much easier time evading the neutralizing antibodies produced by COVID-19 vaccines if a person has only gotten one shot, according to a study published in Nature.
- Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine was 64 percent effective at preventing infection and symptomatic COVID-19 amid the spread of the delta variant in Israel. It was 93 percent effective at preventing serious illness.
- Both Johnson & Johnson’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be effective against the delta variant in early studies. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine demonstrated “strong, persistent activity against the rapidly spreading delta variant and other highly prevalent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants” in an early study, and Moderna’s vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies after two doses.
- Some experts believe people who were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may need to get a booster shot of an mRNA vaccine from either Pfizer or Moderna to protect against the delta variant.
- Pfizer’s and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines were both highly effective in preventing hospitalization from the delta variant in a study by Public Health England.
