Delta variant, vaccinated symptoms and protection: what we know

The Delta variant of the covid is dominant in Italy and, in many regions, is causing an increase in infections. But what do we know about the symptoms and duration of this virus mutation? What protection do the vaccinated have? The Delta variant is 40 to 60% higher transmissibility than the Alpha variant (or English variant) and is associated with a relatively higher risk of infection in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals. it seems to have more impact on the organism. Coughs, colds, headaches and sore throats, fever, body aches, diarrhea, fatigue and exhaustion – the first signs of coronavirus in people – are usually stronger. And as a result, healing times are also affected.According to some studies, the delta variant may also have milder and generally non-virus-associated symptoms that some might mistake for an allergy or other common disease. According to researchers from the Zoe Covid Symptom Study, excessive sneezing can also be a symptom of the Delta variant. “Our data shows that people who were vaccinated and then tested positive were more likely to report sneezing as a symptom than those without the vaccine,” the researchers wrote. The Delta variant, moreover, can be up to 110% more. contagious, as recently highlighted by ISS president Silvio Brusaferro: “The increase in transmissibility of the Delta variant is estimated between + 33- + 110% and therefore in the worst scenario a transmissibility in the upper limit of 1.3 is assumed”, explained the president of the Higher Institute of Health. VACCINES Opinions do not agree on the efficacy of vaccines against the Delta variant. However, there is evidence that those who have received only the first dose of a vaccination, which involves the administration of two doses to complete the vaccination course, are less protected against infection with the Delta variant than infection with other variants, regardless the type of vaccine administered. Completion of the vaccine course appears to provide protection against the Delta variant almost equivalent to that observed against the Alpha variant. Johnson & Johnson, Janssen’s single-dose Covid vaccine “demonstrated a durable immune response and generated neutralizing antibody responses against the variant. Delta and other variants of SARS-CoV-2 of concern, “J&J reported, communicating the interim results of a phase 1 / 2a substudy published in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ (Nejm). Pfizer against the Delta variant is “weaker” than health officials hoped. This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who added: “We do not know exactly to what extent the vaccine helps, but it is significantly less”. With the Delta variant, today “even if you are vaccinated you can be infected”. This variant, “even breaks the double vaccination course”, because “it confers a certain protection against serious illness and hospitalization” but “in 30-35% of cases it causes infection even in subjects who have received the second dose of vaccine, let alone one “, said Walter Ricciardi, professor of General and Applied Hygiene at the Catholic University and scientific advisor to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza. According to the EMA, the Delta variant at the end of August will represent 90% of cases of coronavirus in the EU. The vaccine mix is ​​presented as safe and effective, say the European Medicines Agency (Ema) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc), in a joint note, recall that “the Delta variant” of Sars-CoV-2 “is spreading rapidly in Europe and worries because it could hinder efforts to control the pandemic”. According to the Ema-Ecdc document, the Delta variant “is 40% to 60% more transmissible than the previous Alpha variant and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization”. The ECDC estimates “that by the end of August the Delta variant will represent 90% of all Sars-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the EU”. For this reason “it is essential for countries to speed up vaccination programs, including the administration of second doses where recommended, and to fill the population’s immune gaps as soon as possible”.