The Delta variant of the coronavirus does not appear to cause more severe disease in children than earlier forms of the virus, a UK study suggests. Another study found that in Covid-19 survivors, important components of the body’s immune response called memory B cells continue to evolve and get stronger for at least several months, producing highly potent antibodies that can neutralize new variants of the virus.
Worldwide deaths related to Covid-19 surpassed 5 million on Oct. 1, according to a Reuters tally, with unvaccinated people particularly exposed to the virulent Delta strain.
The United States surpassed 700,000 coronavirus-related deaths on Oct. 1, according to a Reuters tally, as officials roll out booster doses of vaccines to protect the elderly and people working in high-risk professions.
Laboratory studies show that Merck & Co.’s experimental oral Covid-19 antiviral drug molnupiravir is likely to be effective against known variants of the coronavirus, including the dominant, highly transmissible Delta, the company said on Sept. 29.
A potential vaccine from China’s Clover Biopharmaceuticals was 67 percent effective against Covid-19 of any degree of severity and 79 percent against the highly infectious Delta variant in a large trial, the company said on Sept. 22.
Eli Lilly said on Sept. 15 the U.S. government bought 388,000 additional doses of the company’s Covid-19 antibody therapy and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said on Sept. 14 the U.S. government was buying 1.4 million additional doses of the Covid-19 antibody cocktail REGEN-COV., as infections surge due to the fast-spreading Delta variant.
Three U.S. studies suggest Covid-19 vaccines offer strong protection against hospitalization and death, even in the face of the highly transmissible Delta variant, but vaccine protection appears to be waning among older populations, especially among those 75 and older.
President Joe Biden took aim on Sept. 9 at vaccine resistance in America, announcing policies requiring most federal employees to get Covid-19 vaccinations and pushing large employers to have their workers inoculated or tested weekly.
President Joe Biden on Sept. 9 will present a six-pronged strategy intended to fight the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant and increase U.S. Covid-19 vaccinations, the White House said on Sept. 7.
As Covid-19 infections driven by the Delta variant continue to spike across much of the United States, stretching health care services to the limits, the White House is seeking $65 billion to lay the groundwork for future pandemic preparedness.
