Vaccine Data Proves Strong Efficacy Against Delta Variant Amid New Calls For Masks

With concerns temporarily spiking after the discovery of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the U.S., data continues to reaffirm the efficacy of the vaccinations. The data does not at all suggest reverting to the draconian lockdowns of 2020 in response to the new form of coronavirus.

Since the Delta variant has surfaced, some have called for a return to COVID restrictions and mask mandates, but Johnson & Johnson announced preliminary data supporting their vaccine's protection against serious effects.

Over 327 million vaccine doses -- J&J, Moderna, or Pfizer -- have been administered in America thus far.

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J&J Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Stoffels released the following update on their vaccine:

“Today’s newly announced studies reinforce the ability of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to help protect the health of people globally. We believe that our vaccine offers durable protection against COVID-19 and elicits neutralizing activity against the Delta variant. This adds to the robust body of clinical data supporting our single-shot vaccine’s ability to protect against multiple variants of concern.

“Current data for the eight months studied so far show that the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine generates a strong neutralizing antibody response that does not wane; rather, we observe an improvement over time. In addition, we observe a persistent and particularly robust, durable cellular immune response. With each new dataset, we build on our solid foundation of evidence that our single-shot COVID-19 vaccine plays a critical role in ending the pandemic, which continues to evolve and pose new challenges to global health.”

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown similar protection against the highly contagious strain.

Last week, Los Angeles County announced a "strong recommendation" for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated Americans to resume wearing masks. W.H.O. officials reverberated the call for masks, contrary to the CDC's guidelines.

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While concerns about another spike in COVID cases remain during America's reopening, the Los Angeles Times reports that experts have been assured the Delta variant would not lead to a spike in cases similar to the summer and fall of 2020.

Millions of Americans have now returned to public events and gatherings, and businesses have embraced reopening as a way to rebound from a pandemic year that permanently shuttered over 200,000 establishments by the end of 2020.

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Alejandro Avila lives in Southern California and previously covered news for the LA Football Network. Jeopardy expert and grumpy sports fan. Known for having watched every movie and constant craving for dessert. @alejandroaveela (on X)