Featured Headlines

Pfizer Vaccine Less Effective Against Delta Infections but Prevents Severe Illness, Israeli Data Show – Wall Street Journal

Data from Israel suggest Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine is less effective at protecting against infections caused by the Delta variant of Covid-19 but retains its potency to prevent severe illness from the highly contagious strain.

What is the lambda variant? – MedNewsToday

The lambda variant, previously called C.37, was first identified in Peru in August 2020. Although it is not considered a variant of concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as a variant of interest in June. So far, scientists have identified the lambda variant in at least 26 countries, including the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. In Peru, it now accounts for the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Should We Be Concerned About the Lambda Variant? – MedPageToday

Yet another SARS-CoV-2 variant is making headlines, but experts reassure that early evidence suggests it can’t substantially evade vaccines — though it does have potential to become a variant of concern, one expert said.

From Alpha to Delta, Why Virus Mutations Cause Alarm – Washington Post

Viruses mutate all the time, including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that’s caused the Covid-19 pandemic. Although most genetic changes are innocuous, some can make the mutant more adept at infecting cells, for example, or evading antibodies. Such “fitter” variants can outcompete other strains, so that they become the predominant source of infections. A succession of more-transmissible variants has emerged over the past year, each harboring a constellation of mutations. The most worrisome so far is the so-called delta variant. It has spread to more than 100 countries since it was first reported in India in October, leading to surges in cases and hospitalizations, especially in places where less than half the adult population has been fully immunized. It’s the dominant strain now in many countries, including in the U.K. and the U.S.

Some Vaccinated People Are Dying of Covid-19. Here’s Why Scientists Aren’t Surprised. – Wall Street Journal

As the Delta variant of the coronavirus surges through the U.K., almost half of the country’s recent Covid-19 deaths are of people who have been vaccinated. But doctors and scientists aren’t sounding the alarm about the apparently high proportion of deaths among the vaccinated population.

Why have COVID-19 cases suddenly surged in Australia? – MedNewsToday

Most of the country has entered into new snap lockdowns, as cases of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 spread across several cities. Darwin, Perth, and Brisbane emerged from lockdowns over the weekend.

S.Korea raises Seoul COVID-19 curbs to top level, new cases set 2nd straight national record – Reuters

South Korea will raise anti-coronavirus restrictions to the highest level in Seoul and some neighbouring regions for two weeks from Monday, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Friday, after new COVID-19 cases climbed to a daily record for the second day running.

Mask Wearing Plummets—Especially Among Unvaccinated —But Delta Variant Creates Growing Anxiety About Covid-19, Polls Find – Forbes

The percentage of Americans who say they’re strictly social distancing and wearing masks has plunged since the spring, a new Gallup poll finds—but a Harris poll suggests the spread of the Delta variant is making people more worried about the future of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Delta Variant Isn’t Just Hyper-Contagious. It Also Grows More Rapidly Inside You – NPR

After months of data collection, scientists agree: The delta variant is the most contagious version of the coronavirus worldwide. It spreads about 225% faster than the original version of the virus, and it’s currently dominating the outbreak in the United States.

Episode 10: Long Haulers, Delta Woes and Barbershop Shots (Podcast) – Scientific American

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

New study on delta variant reveals importance of receiving both vaccine shots, highlights challenges posed by mutations – Washington Post

New laboratory research on the swiftly spreading delta variant of the coronavirus is highlighting the threats posed by viral mutations, adding urgency to calls to accelerate vaccination efforts across the planet. A peer-reviewed report from scientists in France, published Thursday in the journal Nature, found that the delta variant has mutations that allow it to evade some of the neutralizing antibodies produced by vaccines or by a natural infection. A single shot of a two-dose vaccine “barely” offers any protection, researchers reported.

Covid Origins Mirror SARS’s Genesis in Animals, Study Finds – Bloomberg

Early Covid-19 cases traced to markets in Wuhan, China, mirror the initial spread of SARS 17 years earlier, scientists said in a paper that concludes that an animal contagion is the most likely explanation for the pandemic’s genesis.

Vaccine Headlines

Longer gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses may increase immune response – MedNewsToday

A new (preprint) study provides reassurance that a longer gap between the first and second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will not compromise a person’s immune response. A gap of up to 45 weeks actually led to a stronger immune response compared with the recommended interval. A “booster” jab more than 6 months after the second dose further strengthened immunity, including against existing variants. (Link to Preprint Study)

Pfizer to seek FDA authorization for 3rd Covid vaccine dose – NBC

Research shows two doses of mRNA vaccines offer strong protection against the highly contagious delta variant.

Clinical Considerations

Fitbit Stats Show Lingering Physiologic Hit After COVID-19 – Medscape

People infected with SARS-CoV-2 can experience lingering physiologic effects after they recover, according to early data from an ongoing study that is harnessing the power of Fitbits and other wearable trackers to gauge long-term effects of COVID-19.

Psychological and Sociological Impact

A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’ – Scientific American

Even as U.S. policy makers and business leaders seek to put the COVID pandemic in the rearview mirror with the help of highly effective vaccines, a fundamental policy and planning gap is looming. Many who survive the initial viral illness suffer debilitating long-term sequelae. Unlike the common cold or even influenza, this virus causes a bewildering array of symptoms that persist long after the acute illness is resolved and can render some affected unable to resume their usual activities. As scientists and clinicians continue to delineate the “long-haul” course of COVID, policy makers and planners must anticipate and prepare for the impact of this new cause of disability, including its implications for federal and private worker’s compensation and disability insurance programs and support services.

Tokyo’s Plan to Avoid Pandemic Disaster During the Olympics – Time

The Olympics and COVID-19 were never going to be compatible. The cardinal rule when it comes to controlling an infectious disease is to limit the contact people have with one another. Yet the very essence of the two weeks of competition, which begin on July 23 in Tokyo, is to invite the world to meet, greet and engage in friendly—and often socially not so distant—contests.