COVID-19 delta variant identified in Santa Cruz County

RHONDELLA AND JENNIFER,O TYOU? RHONDELLA: THANKS, A.J. DELTA PLUS IS NOW SPREADING IN 11 CNTOURIES RAISING NEW CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF T EFFICACY OF COVID VACCINES. JENNIFER: HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. RK SIEDNER, THE EPIDEMIOLOSTGI WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. HOW IS THE DTAEL PLUS VARIANT DIFFERENT AND IS IT MORE DANGEROUS? >> SO WE’RE STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS AYT OR DELTA PLUS VARIANT. IT’S DEFINITELY ONE THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS WATCHING. BUT I THINK WHAT PEOPLEHO SULD KNOW IS THAT AS LONG AS VACCINATION RATES ARE LOW PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,HE T VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND THESE VARIANTS WILL CONTINUE TO EMER. WE KNOW THAT THE PARENT VIRUS, THE DELTA VARIANT ITSELF, IS SPREADING IN MASSACHUSETTS. IT’S BEING SEEN IN 10-20% OF CASES CURRENTLY. IT’S CLEARLY MORE CONTAGIOUS AND APPEARS TO BE MORE SEVERE, PARTICULARLY IN YOUNG PEOPLE. SO FOR THOSE AMONG US WHO HAVE YET TO BE VACCINATED, I THINK ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER FOLKS, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE KEEPING YOUR EYES ON. RHONDELLA: OK. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED MAY NOT GET THE SAME PROTECTION FROM COVID VACCINES. A W STUDY SUGGESTS A THIRD DOSE COULD BE THE ANSWER. WHAT DO YOU THINK AUTBO THAT? >> THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES AND THEY’VE BEEN REASSURI. NG IN THIS STY, ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS GOT A THIRD VACCINE THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME SPECIFIC POPULATIONS WHO NEED MORE VACCINES THAN THE REST OF US. JENNIFER: IF THE PROTECTION IS BETTER WITH A THIRD DOSE, AT LEAST IN SOME CASES, WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE GET ONE OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE TOO MUCH VACCINES? >> SO THE FLIP SIDE HERE, IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF US, OVER 90% OF US, CLEARLY, THE CURRENT VACCINES ARE WORKING. WE’VE SEEN THAT IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND REAL-WORLD DATA. THESE VACCINES ARE PREVENTING 90-100% OF DEATHS. ALTHOUGH BOOSTERS MAY BE NEEDED OR IMMUNITY WANES,OR NOW, THESE VACCINES ARE WORKING. NOT MUCH ADVANTA TO GET A THIRD DOSE ESPECIALLY WITH GLOBAL SHORTES OF THE VACCINES. RHONDELLA: THIS TRSHUDAY REGISTRATION OPENS FOR THE VAXMILLIONS GETAWA Y. >> WE’RE LEARNING THERE’S A WEID RANGOFE REASONS PEOPLE DON’T GET VACCINATED. HOPEFULLY INFORMATION SESSIONS LIKE THESE WILL HELP ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO’VE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ACCESSING VACCINES FOR WORK SCHEDULES OR CHILD CARE SCHEDUS.LE IT’S GREAT TO SEE THAT VAX BUS OR THE OTHER PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS TO ADDRESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THESE CHALLENGES. THERE ARE JUST SOME WHO NEED AN EXTRA NUDGE. IN MASSACHUSETTS AND OTHER STATES THERERE A A MILLION MORE NUDGES FOR THOSE WHO NEED THAT. HOPEFUYLL THIS WILL GET MORE PEOPLE TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. JENNIFER: THE NUMBERS TICK UP. DR. MARK SIED

The first reported case of the COVID-19 delta variant has been found in Santa Cruz County. According to the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department, the delta variant is on track to become the dominant strain in the U.S. and represents 14.5% of all California cases. The variant is highly transmissible, and more resistant to monoclonal antibody treatment.The person who was carrying the delta variant was in their 50s and experience mild symptoms.The health department noted that complete vaccination is highly effective against the new variant. Officials are asking that people get vaccinated and anyone who missed their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should schedule their second shot as soon as possible. “With the reopening of the economy and slowing vaccination rates, the introduction of a highly transmissible variant creates an especially worrisome situation,” Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci said. “For those who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, your risk of serious illness is becoming more likely. The best way to reduce the risk for everyone – including residents not yet eligible to be vaccinated — is to seek a vaccine as soon as possible.”A list of vaccine local COVID-19 vaccine providers is available at:• https://www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine (English)• https://www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvacuna (Spanish)

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. —

The first reported case of the COVID-19 delta variant has been found in Santa Cruz County.

According to the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department, the delta variant is on track to become the dominant strain in the U.S. and represents 14.5% of all California cases. The variant is highly transmissible, and more resistant to monoclonal antibody treatment.

The person who was carrying the delta variant was in their 50s and experience mild symptoms.

The health department noted that complete vaccination is highly effective against the new variant. Officials are asking that people get vaccinated and anyone who missed their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should schedule their second shot as soon as possible.

“With the reopening of the economy and slowing vaccination rates, the introduction of a highly transmissible variant creates an especially worrisome situation,” Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci said. “For those who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, your risk of serious illness is becoming more likely. The best way to reduce the risk for everyone – including residents not yet eligible to be vaccinated — is to seek a vaccine as soon as possible.”

A list of vaccine local COVID-19 vaccine providers is available at:

• https://www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine (English)

• https://www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvacuna (Spanish)