Two doses of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, according to a new analysis from Public Health England.
The variant, which was first identified in India, has become the predominant strain in the United Kingdom.
The NBC reports that a previous analysis from Public Health England suggested that a single dose of the vaccine was less effective against symptomatic illness caused by the Delta variant compared to the so-called Alpha variant, or B.1.1.7, which swept the U.K. in the winter.
The new analysis found that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 96 percent effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant, and two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 92 percent effective.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says the second shot is critical.
He says they know from the phase one studies that the second shot induces a level of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies that’s about tenfold greater than that after the first dose.
The analysis included 14,019 cases caused by the Delta variant in England, 166 of which resulted in hospitalizations from April 12 to June 4.
U.K. health officials urged residents to get their second dose when it’s their turn.
Dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at Public Health England said in a statement it is absolutely vital to get both doses as soon as they are offered to you, to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization said the new data certainly suggests that full vaccination is really important for this particular variant.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla expressed confidence about how the Pfizer vaccine fared against the Delta variant on “CBS This Morning”.
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