Growing Spread of the Delta Variant... Can Vaccination Overcome It?

'Four Major Variants' Infect Nearly 6,098 People

Delta Variant Limited to 256 Cases but Spread Increasing
High Transmission and Hospitalization Rates, Concerns Over Reduced Vaccine Effectiveness

UK Public Health Agency Refutes Pfizer 88% and AZ 60% Effectiveness
However, Based on Second Dose... Experts Recommend Shortening Dose Intervals and Increasing Cross Vaccination

On the 21st, the screening clinic set up at Chuncheon City Health Center in Gangwon is crowded with citizens waiting for COVID-19 tests. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The number of infections from the four major COVID-19 variants that have entered South Korea has practically exceeded 6,000. In particular, the rate of increase in infections from the highly dangerous Delta variant (Indian variant) is accelerating, raising concerns.

According to health authorities on the 23rd, as of the 19th, there were 2,225 confirmed cases of major COVID-19 variants. Including 3,873 "epidemiologically related" individuals, who are considered variant infections through cluster infections, the total reaches 6,098.

Among these, the spread of the Delta variant, which has high transmissibility and hospitalization rates and raises concerns about reducing vaccine efficacy, is becoming serious. The number of confirmed Delta variant cases in South Korea has steadily increased over the past three weeks: 17 → 30 → 35. Including 66 epidemiologically related individuals, the total number of Delta variant infections reaches 256.

However, with research results indicating that the weakening of vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant is not at a concerning level, our health authorities stated that vaccination can sufficiently cope with the Delta variant. According to a recent analysis by the UK Public Health Agency, the Pfizer vaccine and AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine showed effectiveness rates of 88% and 60%, respectively, two weeks after completing vaccination against the Delta variant. Although the efficacy has somewhat decreased compared to the initial virus strain, it still provides sufficient preventive effects.

However, after only the first dose, both Pfizer and AZ vaccines showed low effectiveness of about 33% against the Delta variant. Professor Back Soon-young, Emeritus Professor at the Catholic University Medical School, emphasized, "The second dose for the elderly aged 60 and over who received AZ will only be administered around September, but there is a high risk that the Delta variant will spread rapidly before then. Instead of maintaining the 11-week dosing interval, cross-vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine should be carried out more quickly to increase the number of fully vaccinated individuals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.