As flu season begins, public health officials are worried there could be a second wave of hospitalizations, this one driven by not one, but two respiratory viruses. It’s about group risk, not just individual risk.Īlthough COVID-19 cases have dropped since early September and the strain on hospitals has eased a bit, the pandemic is far from over. Put together, it means that getting vaccinated isn’t enough to protect someone from COVID-19: everyone around them needs to be vaccinated, too. Vaccinated people who get the delta variant are also more likely to transmit it, compared to other strains like alpha and beta.ĬOVID-19 vaccine preparation at a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Portland International Airport, April 9, 2021. It’s also better at infecting people, which means breakthrough cases are more likely. It’s better at spreading, which means one sick person can expose a lot of people. The vaccines are also effective at slowing transmission.īut the delta variant is significantly more contagious than previous versions of the coronavirus. Vaccines remain one of the most effective ways to prevent deaths and hospitalizations caused by the coronavirus. Others still have details that need to be worked out. Some of those mandates go into effect on Monday. Employees covered by the mandate need to be vaccinated, granted an exemption, or face losing their jobs.