London Health News: Vaccines Still Got Your Back Against Delta
On June 14, Public Health England (PHE) shared some reassuring news that the two leading Covid shots—Pfizer and AstraZeneca—are still doing the heavy lifting against the Delta variant. Both are over 90 % effective at stopping hospital admissions, keeping the numbers where they’re supposed to stay.
Why the Government’s Pausing the Chill‑Off
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson postponed easing restrictions in England.
- The delay stems from the Delta variant, first spotted in India but now sweeping the country.
- Delta is trickier: it pushes unvaccinated folks to hospitals at a higher rate.
What PHE Found
After a quick look at the data:
- Two shots of Pfizer‑BioNTech shield you 96 % against Delta‑related hospital stays.
- Oxford‑AstraZeneca follows close behind with 92 % protection.
- These numbers are almost identical to those for the Alpha variant (the one that first popped up in Kent).
So, even though Delta can make you feel sick earlier and pop up against the vaccine’s defenses, the double dose still keeps severe disease at bay.
Putting the Numbers in Context
In Scotland, a study showed that if you’re already infected but had two shots, you’re 70 % less likely to end up in a hospital. That’s a solid reduction, even if the sample size wasn’t big enough to split by vaccine type.
What’s Next for PHE?
- They’re gearing up to analyze how well the vaccines protect against death from Delta.
- Initial vibes suggest that the death‑prevention rates will also be high.
Takeaway
Bottom line: if you’re two doses in, you’ve got a rock‑solid shield against the Delta variant’s worst effects. So grab that booster if you haven’t already—keep the hospital doors closed!
