In the past two weeks or so, the rate of new cases has risen significantly nationally, as have hospitalizations and deaths. While the rates remain lower than in the winter or spring, it’s a worrisome development.
For the most part, this has been driven by the emergence of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. That variant is more easily transmitted — it now accounts for more than three-quarters of the new cases nationally, and the vast majority of new hospitalizations.
However, the impact of the Delta variant is not uniform: its effects are being felt much more sharply in regions with low rates of vaccination. That reality led Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, to
describe recent developments as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
The available vaccines have proven themselves highly effective against COVID-19, including the Delta variant — reducing transmission, reducing the severity of symptoms, and reducing deaths. As
Dr. Anthony Fauci noted in an interview early this month, over 99% of the people who died from COVID-19 in June were unvaccinated. The vaccines work. And the benefits that we individually derive from vaccines also have
important broader community benefits — high rates of vaccination help make everyone safer. That’s why
NYU has vaccination requirements in place for all community members.
I understand that some people remain concerned about being vaccinated; however, you should know that by this point over 160 million Americans are fully vaccinated. Against the backdrop of tens of millions receiving the vaccines and a robust system monitoring for adverse reactions (which have been very rare), the vaccines have proven themselves to be very safe and effective,
the benefits far outweigh any of the exceptionally rare instances for concern, and vaccinations are widely available and free.
Finally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised some of their current recommendations on mask-wearing, even for fully vaccinated people; some local jurisdictions have already made changes, reinstituting a mask mandate. At the present time, NYU continues to require masking in indoor spaces; given the emergence of the Delta variant, we expect to continue that practice at least through the remainder of the summer, and possibly into the fall. It’s understandable that fully vaccinated people want to shed their masks; I look forward to that day as much as everyone else.
The effects of the Delta variant are a sharp reminder of how unpredictable and challenging COVID-19 has been from the beginning. The best response? Get vaccinated as soon as possible, and then
upload your proof of vaccination.
Enjoy your summer. See you in the fall.
Dr. Carlo Ciotoli, MD, MPA
Executive Lead, NYU COVID-19 Prevention & Response Team