Understanding the new COVID-19
Variants including Delta Variant
Version 8a (updated 8/24/21)
What’s all this talk on TV about new variants (versions or varieties) of COVID-19? Are they the same disease? Worse? Fake news?
Viruses like Coronavirus or COVID-19 are continually changing through a process of genetic mutation. We learned this in our 8th grade Biology 101 class but probably forgot it: A mutation is a change in the viral RNA sequence. The viral genome with a mutation is called a variant. Now you remember, right? No, I didn’t either.
The new varieties of the Covid-19 virus are called variants in the world of viral epidemiology … a science we rarely ever hear from. Now, all of a sudden, we are seeing variants come up on the nightly news. Most of the variants thrown off by viruses are ineffective. But some are significant, and a few can be much worse.
Scientists are keeping track of some of the more serious variants of COVID-19 that have evolved out of the original wild-type. The World Health Organization (WHO) created a naming system to make these variants easier for the public to understand. Using the Greek alphabet, they are called Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon (A, B, C, D, E). More have and will continue to surface.
To get technical, the virus we are talking about is SARS-CoV-2. It causes the illness called Coronavirus disease 2019, or simply COVID-19. So yes, the COVID-19 disease is caused by a virus that is related to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) that swept out of Asia in February 2003. COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. First discovered in the U.S. in February 2020, it spread by mid-March to all 50 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Trust Territories.
Keeping up with all the emerging knowledge about COVID-19 variants is a challenge. HemacintoEyeNews Research is doing its part with this report on COVID-19 variants to make these developments understandable.
Variants
In September of 2020, the first significant COVID-19 variant was discovered in Kent, England. It was subsequently called the Alpha variant by the WHO (the international health group in Rome, not the 1964 English rock band from London). For the current major COVID-19 variants, we’ve gone from Alpha to Epsilon, plus a new one called Lambda.
Alpha (UK, Sept. 2020). This COVID-19 variant seems to spread more easily, boosting transmission by about 50%. May carry an increased risk of hospitalization and death.
Beta (South Africa, May 2020). Seems to spread more easily, increasing transmission by 50% over earlier variants. Impacts the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody medications. Also negatively affects antibodies produced by an earlier COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine.
Gamma (Brazil, Nov. 2020). Impacts some monoclonal antibody medications. Also negatively affects antibodies produced by an earlier COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine.
Delta (India, Dec. 2020). The Delta variant has become the most prevalent COVID-19 variant in the U.S., supplanting the other variants. Transmitted easily in indoor events and homes. May negatively affect effectiveness of monoclonal antibody treatments and antibodies produced by a COVID-19 vaccine. With this more highly contagious variant, N95 masks work best.
Epsilon (Southern California, Winter 2020). Partly enabled by expanding Delta variant. Transmits more easily. Could be less susceptible to COVID-19 vaccines. More resistant to antibodies produced by an earlier COVID-19 infection.
Lambda (Peru, Aug. 2020). This most recent variant, also called C.37, evolved out of South America and is the predominant variant there and in 30 countries including the U.S. It may be more resistant to vaccines. Also, it may be more infectious. It has showed up in Dallas, Texas.
Vaccine Findings
The vaccines being used around the world to combat the COVID-19 virus come in a variety of forms from a variety of companies and medical institutions. Some, like Sinovac and CoronaVac from China, are made from live SARS CoV-2 virus. Others were made in a revolutionary process that uses small parts of recombinant DNA.
It appears all current forms of the COVID-19 vaccines are still effective against the variants listed below … but in some cases they are somewhat less effective. Immunologists around the world are studying how the vaccines are performing with each variant.
Breaking news — Delta variant has taken over as the most predominant in North America and has started overwhelming hospitals in the U.S.
Prevention of severe COVID-19 for leading vaccines around the world is estimated as follows (first 3 are used in the U.S.):
- Pfizer-BioNTech – 91.3% See Fortune article
- Moderna – 90+%
- Johnson&Johnson’s Janssen – 64-72%
- AstraZenica – 76%
- Sinovac – 50.65%
- CoronaVac – 50.65-83.5%
- Sputnik V – 91.6%
These look like pretty outstanding efficacy scores. Way better than those of the standard flu vaccine that Americans have been taking for years.
Boosters
What about getting a booster to improve your chances of countering fading effectiveness of the vaccine? This question is top-of-the-news these days.
At first, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were telling Americans who had been vaccinated they didn’t need a booster shot just yet. But things were changing on the ground rapidly.
Vaccine makers are currently testing booster doses of their COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer has already announced theirs, prompting a tug-of-war between the Big Pharma giant and public health agencies regarding its need. Want my non-scientific prediction? You will be considering getting an optional booster jab by year-end. Some I know are already getting theirs. And don’t lose your record of your COVID-19 shots.
Breaking news, teens, pregnancy, immunocompromised
Recent COVID-19 developments are driven largely by the Delta variant:
- The average age of COVID-19 cases in hospitals is falling rapidly from 60 to 40.
- Infection rates for those in their 30s has recently shot up by 300%.
- CDC released data in July showing vaccinated people also can transmit Delta variant.
- CDC: Pregnant moms, teens, immunocompromised are urged to vaccinate. Some cannot.
- CDC Covid Data Tracker: Summary for U.S. USA Facts daily tracker.
- The dark-side of the Dollar stores, driven by the virus.
- Delta variants and the homeless.
- 8-month booster shots are coming.
- Over 16% of the vaccinated population getting breakthrough from Delta variant are major spreaders.
- Los Angeles, New York City and other U.S. cities to require COVID-19 vaccinations to enter restaurants, bars and other public places. Situation heating up. Delta a big problem in Manhattan.
- Some good news fighting Delta variant.
Despite the best efforts of public health officials, masks are becoming a controversy. Pros on wearing masks. For the cons go here.
OK, now go and impress your friends with your new-found medical knowledge. And remember, getting vaccinated doesn’t prevent you from transmitting the disease. But social distancing and wearing a mask helps a lot.
For those of you who don’t believe any of this and think it’s all a hoax, I suggest looking up your 8th grade Bio 101 teacher and taking her to lunch. Learning and personal growth is a never-ending process for all of us.
Contributor:
Dennis A. Fletcher, Yorkman711@hotmail.com
Dennis is a reporter and researcher for Hemet Eye News. Also, Program Director for the HemacintoEyeNews. He focuses on news you can use. Beats include medicine, science, current events, disaster preparedness and senior citizens. Contact him with story ideas.
#COVID-19 #CoronaVirus #CoronaVirusLockdown #CoronaVirusPandemic #CoronaVirusUpdates #VirusVariants #CoronaVirusBreakthrough #PfizerBioNTech #Moderna #Janssen #AstraZenica #Sinovac #Coronavac #SputnikV #DeltaVariant #Variant #Hemacinto
Statistics
Word count: 1,362
Content links: 46
Hashtags: 17
Printed pages: 5 (Calibri 12 pt.)
Author residence: Home town: La Canada, Calif. Current home: San Jacinto, CA
Author education: AA in Languages from Pasadena City College (just scraped by), BS in Marketing from Cal Poly Pomona (honors), MS in Management from Cal State Los Angeles University (honors).
Author credentials: California Community College Teaching Credential. Vice President of Human Relations Council for Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee Greater Regions. Member Advisory Council for San Jacinto Senior Center. Former Secretary, Hemet Library Foundation. Former Community Affairs Reporter at The Valley Chronicle newspaper.
HemacintoEyeNews Research: This report is produced through the research arm of the HemetEyeNews.com organization. Reports focus on clarifying complex issues for the public. HemacintoEyeNews Research is managed by Dennis A. Fletcher. Contact him at yorkman711@hotmail.com.
Feedback: Please direct corrections, comments, and suggestions to:
END OF REPORT
CMStotheMAX 