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The Sars-CoV-2 Delta variant: how effective are covid-19 vaccines against this strain?

 COVID-19  In the October edition of Prescrire International, a look at the data available as of mid-2021 regarding the efficacy of covid-19 vaccines against the Delta variant.


Key points

  • The Sars-CoV-2 Delta variant is about 60% more contagious than the Alpha variant, and twice as contagious as “non-variant” Sars-CoV-2.
     
  • Infection with the Delta variant may be more likely to result in hospitalisation than infection with the Alpha variant.
     
  • A single dose of covid-19 vaccine appears less effective against the Delta variant than against the Alpha variant. But limited data available suggest that after two doses, covid-19 vaccines are still highly effective, and similarly effective against these two variants.
     
  • It would be useful to maintain distancing and hygiene measures, especially: handwashing, taking care about touching things with potentially contaminated hands, keeping at a safe distance from other people, decontaminating surfaces that frequently come into contact with hands, ventilating enclosed spaces, and wearing a mask whenever exposure is possible.

©Prescrire 1 October 2021

Source: "The Sars-CoV-2 Delta variant: how effective are covid-19 vaccines against this strain?" Prescrire International 2021; 30 (230): 231-232. Subscribers only.

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