Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 10-22-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for October 22nd, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pfizer says a booster shot of its vaccine boosts prevention of symptomatic cases back up to 95.6%. And this data was compiled when Delta was the prevalent strain.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The CDC seems to be booster backers. Yesterday we told you they’ve decided mixing and matching boosters and original vaccines is okay. And, after saying those who got the Pfizer vaccine months ago are already eligible for a booster, they’ve added Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson takers to that eligibility. The government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated is still the priority.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And so far, the public seems to be open to booster shots, certainly more than the number of people who are still considering getting the initial doses. The CDC reports there are 1.3 times as many boosters administered each day compared with first shots. And the FDA may soon lower the age range on its emergency use authorizations for boosters, depending on safety data.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Infections and deaths in Ukraine surged to all-time highs yesterday. Its vaccine inoculations are among the lowest in Europe. With a choice of four vaccines, only about 15% of the population is fully vaccinated. Only Armenia has a lower level. Restrictions are in place for public places and public transport.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Our question for today, are new variants of the coronavirus just going to keep emerging? Well, experts at Penn State say yes. But only if the virus can keep finding infectable people, because inside people is where new variants are made. Over half the world is still unvaccinated, so there are plenty of bodies to mutate in. However, these experts say that doesn’t necessarily mean new variants will be more dangerous. Why? It needs to adapt to us in order to spread more widely. Killing us doesn’t help it. Still, emerging variants are closely watched to see if they evade the protection we develop from vaccination and infec