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Stopping the spiral of the COVID-19 delta variant
Transmission of the COVID-19 delta variant is increasing.
"We're in this constant spiral, right now,” says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.
“The delta variant is so highly contagious,” he says. “The number of delta viral particles in the upper respiratory system is reportedly 1,000 times higher than with the original COVID-19 virus. If we can't find ways to get people vaccinated, we are going to be in a world of hurt. And I don't say that to be alarmist. I say it to be a realist, based on what’s happening right in front of us.”
But Dr. Poland says the spiral can be stopped by getting higher rates of immunization.
"Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent the development of worse and worse variants. It will prevent severe cases of hospitalization and death, even in the face of a variant,” he says. "The alternative is to lose another 600,000-plus Americans. Only this time it will, unfortunately, involve younger people."
Dr. Poland explains further, "Every time somebody gets infected with the delta variant, there's the opportunity for that virus to mutate and transmit to other people," says Dr. Poland. "This means that immunization rates to control herd immunity will probably have to be in the 85% to 95% range."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland continues to talk about the delta variant, breakthrough infections, booster shots and much more.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Read the full transcript.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.
Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
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Dr. Poland. As a Mentor for Mayo Connect, I see quite a few people that are seeing changes in their blood chemistry after having their vaccines. Will you address this, please?
Herd immunity is the only way sounds like to me to many mixed messages on and for vaccinations . What might work one might not work for others I’m not an advocate for the shot or shots there for you have to make your own conclusions to many mixed conclusions for me I’ll take my chances I know that anything that changes your DNA 🧬 something isn’t right about that it talks about that in biblical terms of the Bible be your own judge
From Melanie Swift, M.D., COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Distribution, Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/mrna-vaccines-immunity/vid-20507649
"We've got two really effective vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. These vaccines are about 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 disease.
These vaccines work by delivering some of this mRNA into our cells. The SARS COV-2 virus got a genetic code of its own. There is a little segment, a tiny little snippet of that, that actually codes for the spike protein. The spike protein is the thing that helps this virus get into our cells and infect us.
mRNA is like a little recipe for how to make that spike protein. When we get these vaccines, our body makes that spike protein and we develop an immune defense to it without ever having to be exposed to the whole virus. It's not exposing us to the whole virus at all, live or killed. It's only allowing us to make a little bit of that spike protein, which is just a tiny portion of the virus, and then we react to that and become protected from the whole virus.
mRNA in these vaccines can only get into the main part of the cell, but it can't get into the nucleus of the cell, which is where our own DNA lives. It can't incorporate into our DNA. It also doesn't live very long, and it doesn't last very long. It's very fragile, and that's why it has to be stored at these ultra cold temperatures. It's not stable for very long. So, it goes into the body, it goes into the cell for a matter of hours, and starts to make this protein. Then in the coming days, our bodies react to that protein but that messenger RNA doesn't hang around nor does it get into our DNA."
I just can't understand the back and forth from cdc and others about shots and masks. Wear one no you don't have to then wear one or get a shot or if have had virus don't need shot now yes you do. Being demonized for not getting a shot is so wrong. We still have choices in this country so far. I am really worried about the millions of undocumented people pouring into our country that have covid or could have it and being allowed to intermingle with the population. We need better from our health care providers.
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1 Reaction@milesdaviskindofblue- Good morning. You are absolutely correct, what works for one person might not work for someone else. That's why there are trials to see what works for healthy people. Then different groups are tested to see how "people with transplants", "people with lung cancer", and so on react. It is impossible to make bespoke vaccines. It is a myth that the vaccine changes your DNA as the vaccine is made with an mRNA message.
One thing to keep in mind is that vaccines prevent serious illness from the covid and Delta variants. This can only happen when about 90% of the population is vaccinated. But we are far short of this because people in America and other parts of the world refuse to get vaccines based on myths. There are so many myths and misinformation that I agree, it is very confusing. However, Mayo Connect only recommends science-based evidence.
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1 ReactionFrom the very beginning masks, handwashing, and social distancing have been recommended to help prevent the spread of covid. And then vaccines were offered to prevent serious illness. The Delta variant is now our prevalent virus because people in America (almost half) and from other parts of the world refuse to be vaccinated base on myths and misinformation and this is what happens when people refuse to be vaccinated. You have just heard Dr. Poland explain this in this video.
So, using commons sense, if you are one of the many people who refuse to be vaccinated then mask up, social distance, and wash your hands. You will be protecting yourself, and maybe others. Maybe you will escape Delta but chances are, at some point you will contact it because it is so virulent and infectious.
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2 ReactionsIn my neck of the woods I keep reading hospital based healthcare workers are already frazzled. Even if you beat those unvaccinated odds, but require surgery for say something unexpectedly like a motor vehicle accident, do you really want (Delta) re-frazzled providers operating on you? If it gets bad once again, surgeries were postponed altogether as I recall.
Since receiving the Pfizer, my adult daughter said that there have been changes in her blood chemistry and my son in law says he is having neuropathy issues. they refuse to get their eligible daughters vaccinated. They insist that these changes happened after getting Pfizer vaccine. I asked them how they verified these post Pfizer two shots and they defer. How may I counsel them to get their daughters vaccinated?
Jal333, I have submitted your question to Dr. Poland for a future podcast. You may find some of your answers in this week’s podcast and on Mayo Clinic’s COVID Vaccine FAQ page:
– COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine
– The COVID-19 delta variant has changed everything https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/podcasts/newsfeed-post/poland-4/
Thank you, I will do research and listen podcast.