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Early information trace at an increase in breakthrough infections within the U.S.

Early data hint at a rise in breakthrough infections in the U.S.

Ever since Americans started rolling up their sleeves on coronavirus vaccines, health officials have said that people who are vaccinated are very unlikely to become infected or suffer from serious illness or death. However, preliminary data from seven states suggest that the arrival of the Delta variant in July may have changed the calculation.

Breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals accounted for at least one in five newly diagnosed cases in six of these states and higher percentages of total hospital admissions and deaths than previously seen in any of them, according to figures compiled by the New York Times.

However, the absolute numbers remain very low and there is no doubt that the vaccines continue to provide effective protection. This is still “a pandemic of the unvaccinated”, as the federal health authorities have often said.

Still, the trend marks a change in how vaccinated Americans rate their risks.

“Remember when the early vaccine studies came out, it was like no one was hospitalized, no one died,” said Dr. Robert Wachter, chairman of the medical school at the University of California at San Francisco. “That is clearly not true.”

The numbers support the belief, widely held by Biden government officials, that some Americans could benefit from booster vaccinations in the coming months. Federal officials plan to approve additional shots as early as mid-September, though it’s not clear who will receive them.

“If the chances of a breakthrough infection have increased significantly, and I think the evidence is clear and the protection against serious illnesses is no longer as robust as it used to be, I think the case for boosters is rising quite a bit.” Fast, ” said Dr. Guardian.

The seven states – California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia – were examined because they have the most detailed data. It is not certain that the trends in these states apply to the entire United States.

In any case, scientists have always expected that the number of people who have been vaccinated will become more and more represented in the census of the seriously ill and the dead as the population grows.

“We don’t want to water down the message that the vaccine is hugely effective and protective, more than we initially hoped,” said Dr. Scott Dryden-Peterson, an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“The fact that we are seeing groundbreaking cases and groundbreaking hospital admissions and deaths doesn’t detract from the fact that it still saves many people’s lives.”

The CDC declined to comment on the states’ numbers. The agency is expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday to discuss breakthrough infections, hospital admissions and vaccine effectiveness.

Most breakthrough infection analyzes have numbers collected through the end of June. Based on the cumulative numbers, the CDC and public health experts concluded that breakthrough infections are extremely rare and that vaccinated people are most unlikely to get seriously ill.

State data shows that vaccinated people are much less likely to get seriously ill or die of Covid-19.

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U.S. to start extensive distribution of third vaccine doses subsequent month

U.S. to begin wide distribution of third vaccine doses next month

The United States will begin distributing Covid-19 booster vaccinations on a large scale next month as new data shows vaccine protection wears off over time, US health officials said on Wednesday.

It is now “very clear” that immunity declines after the first two doses, and with the dominance of the delta variant, “we see evidence of decreased protection against mild and moderate disease,” according to the CDC. signed declaration Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, the White House Senior Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other US health leaders.

“Based on our latest assessment, current protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death could decline in the coming months, especially for those at higher risk or who were vaccinated during the earlier stages of vaccination.”

As a result, U.S. authorities are preparing to offer booster shots to all eligible Americans starting the week of September 20, eight months after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, officials said. While they said recipients of the Johnson & Johnson single vaccine will likely need booster vaccinations, they are waiting for more dates in the next few weeks before making a formal recommendation.

“With this data, we will also keep the public informed with a timely schedule for J&J booster shots,” officials said.

The plan is subject to formal recommendation by a CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee and FDA approval, also a formality.

The announcement came ahead of a Covid press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where federal health officials further outlined their plan for boosters. President Joe Biden is expected to speak about the U.S. efforts after the briefing, the White House told reporters on Tuesday.

The decision to recommend booster vaccinations comes as the public becomes increasingly concerned about the Delta variant and an increase in breakthrough cases – infections in fully vaccinated individuals. It marks a departure from previous comments by U.S. health officials who said in recent months that fully vaccinated Americans did not need a booster at this point.

U.S. officials changed their embassy to boosters in the past few days as cases continued to rise. Fauci said Thursday that everyone is “likely” to need a booster at some point. On Friday, federal officials approved the administration of booster shots to Americans with compromised immune systems, which include cancer and HIV patients, as well as people who have had organ transplants.

The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, who also signed the statement, said Tuesday that new Covid data, including from Israeli health officials, had caused US health leaders to reconsider their position on vaccine boosters. Israel on Monday released new data showing a reduction in the effectiveness of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine against serious illness in people 65 and over who were fully vaccinated in January or February.

There are similar trends in vaccine effectiveness in the United States, Collins said. He said the surge in breakthrough cases could be due to a combination of the rapidly spreading Delta variant and the deterioration in Covid vaccine protection over time.

The effectiveness of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine has steadily declined over time, dropping to around 84% around four to six months after receiving the second dose for vaccinated people, according to CEO Albert Bourla. Moderna said his vaccine remained 93% effective for the first six months after the second dose, but expects protection to decrease and boosts to be needed.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Walensky said officials based their decision on studies showing immunity to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines decreased over several months. A study in New York from May 3 to July 25 showed that the vaccine’s effectiveness in protecting against infection decreased from around 92% to 80%. Another study by the Mayo Clinic showed that the effectiveness of Pfizer’s vaccine decreased from around 76% to 42%, while that of Moderna’s decreased from 86% to 76%.

“Right now, it’s still like our vaccine protection is working really well,” said Collins. “But we don’t want to wait until it’s oh, too late.”

The move to recommend boosters is likely to trigger criticism, especially since a large part of the world population has not even received a dose of a Covid vaccine.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization urged rich nations to stop distributing booster vaccinations until at least the end of September to allow poorer countries to vaccinate their populations with the first rounds of vaccination. The application is part of WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ plan to vaccinate 40% of the world’s population by December.

The US released the statement minutes after the WHO condemned wealthy nations who support boosters for the general public.

“We clearly believe that the data so far does not suggest the need for boosters,” said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO senior scientist, during a press conference. “And we need to know which groups and at what point in time after the vaccination and which specific vaccinations the people received in their basic course.”

Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law, called the US booster shot plan “a slap in the face” of the international health agency.

“There is a better way to create a win-win situation,” he said in a telephone interview. “We should only empower our health workers and vulnerable people. At the same time, Biden should undertake a bold campaign to vaccinate the world, including significantly increased donations and an increase in vaccine production. “

“In this way we are doing good to America and good to the world. It is in our national interest to stop the development of even more dangerous varieties,” he added.

During a briefing at the White House Tuesday, press secretary Jen Psaki said the government believes it can empower the American people while ensuring that the rest of the world is vaccinated.

“We believe this is a wrong decision. We can do both,” said Psaki. “The United States is by far the largest contributor to the global fight against Covid. We will continue to be the vaccine arsenal around the world. We also have enough supplies and had planned long enough should a refresher be required for those eligible. “Population.”

Giving third shots appears safe. Early data from small studies on the effects of booster doses in immunocompromised patients showed no serious side effects from a third vaccination with an mRNA vaccine, nor did recipients develop side effects beyond those already seen after the initial two-dose treatment.

Once the booster is approved, nursing home residents, health care providers and the elderly – the first groups to be vaccinated in December and January – will likely be given priority for additional vaccinations, Collins said Tuesday. He said “ideally” people should stick with the same manufacturer that they got their first two doses from.

“But if for some reason you don’t have access to it, get the other one,” he said. “Again, as a scientist, I would be more comfortable fixing our plans on real dates, and that means sticking to the same type of vaccine that you had to start with.”

– CNBC’s Rich Mendez and Robert Towey contributed to this report.

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Vaccine Booster Shot Distribution to Start Subsequent Month in US

Vaccine Booster Shot Distribution to Begin Next Month in US

The Biden administration on Wednesday outlined a plan for Americans who received the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines to get a booster shot eight months after receiving their second doses, starting Sept. 20.

Health care workers, nursing home residents and other older adults who were vaccinated early will be first in line, starting then, contingent on authorization by federal regulators. “We are starting to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease,” officials of several federal agencies said in a prepared statement.

“Here’s what you need to know: If you are fully vaccinated, you still have a high degree of protection from the worst outcomes of Covid-19, severe disease hospitalization and death,” Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, said at a White House briefing.

“We are not recommending that you go out and get a booster today. Instead, starting the week of Sept. 20,” he added, but that fully vaccinated adults should “begin getting their booster shots eight months after their second shot of an mRNA vaccine.”

Protection conferred by the vaccines against severe disease, hospitalization and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among high-risk groups who were vaccinated early, the officials said. “For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.”

Still, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the C.D.C. director, sought to be reassuring. “These data confirm that while protection against infection may decrease over time, protection against severe disease and hospitalization is currently holding up pretty well,” she said.

People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may also require additional doses. But that vaccine was not rolled out until March 2021, and a plan to provide boosters for those individuals will be made after reviewing new data expected over next few weeks, officials said.

Some experts immediately pushed back against the decision, saying only some older adults and people with weakened immune systems needed extra protection. The World Health Organization has asked that wealthy countries defer distributing booster shots until the end of September.

Jeff Zients, the White House pandemic coordinator, said at the briefing on Wednesday that the administration is on its way to donating more than 600 million doses of vaccines to other countries.

“We’re going to do both,” he said. “We’re going to both protect the American people and we’re going to do more and more to help vaccinate the world. ”

Before Americans can begin to receive boosters, the Food and Drug Administration must first authorize a third dose of the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and an advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must review the evidence and make recommendations.

Federal officials plan to begin by offering booster shots directly to residents of long-term care facilities, since the vaccines were distributed to this population early in the rollout and the virus poses a particular threat to the elderly.

“We will continue to follow the science on a daily basis, and we are prepared to modify this plan should new data emerge that requires it,” federal officials said.

Still, “there’s nothing magical about this number,” Dr. Murthy said, referring to the recommendation to get a booster eight months after the second dose. “This is where judgment comes in.”

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5 issues to know earlier than the inventory market opens Wednesday, Aug 18

5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday, Aug 18

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Futures are flat ahead of housing data, Fed minutes

Traders work on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 17, 2021.

Andrew Kelly | Reuters

U.S. stock futures were flat Wednesday as traders awaited key housing data and a summary of the Federal Reserve’s recent meeting. S&P 500 futures dipped about 1 point, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 46 points, or 0.1%. Nasdaq 100 futures climbed just 0.2%. Wednesday’s moves come a day after the 30-stock Dow dropped 282 points, while the S&P 500 posted its biggest one-day loss since July 19.

U.S. housing starts and building permits data for July is set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists expect housing starts to have fallen by 3.2% to 1.59 million, according to Dow Jones. Building permits are expected to come in at 1.61 million, up 0.8%. The Fed minutes are set to come out at 2 p.m. ET, and investors will parse them out to look for clues on when the central bank could start tapering its massive stimulus programs.

2. Lowe’s and Target earnings beat estimates

A shopper departs after visiting a Lowe’s hardware store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 4, 2020.

Mark Makela | Reuters

A shopper leaves a Target store in New York, August 15, 2021.

Scott Mlyn | CNBC

3. Palantir loads up on gold

Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir arrives ahead of a “Tech For Good” meetup at Hotel Marigny in Paris on May 15, 2019, held to discuss good conduct for technology giants.

Bertrand Guay | AFP | Getty Images

Palantir did something unusual for a publicly traded company: It bought gold. The data analytics software company disclosed in its latest quarterly report that it bought nearly $51 million in gold 100-ounce gold bars. The move is unusual because shareholders would normally push for a company to put its cash to work toward capital expenditures, share buybacks or even a dividend. However, the move could be reflective of a company bracing for economic uncertainty.

4. Afghanistan evacuations pick up steam

Evacuees crowd the interior of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, carrying some 640 Afghans to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan August 15, 2021.

Courtesy of Defense One | Handout via Reuters

Evacuations from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul picked up steam, as thousands of diplomats and aid workers have left the country along with at least several hundred Afghans. The U.K. government says it’s taking about 1,000 people out of Afghanistan every day. “We’re still bringing out British nationals … and those Afghan nationals who are part of our locally employed scheme,” U.K. Interior Minister Priti Patel told the BBC on Wednesday. Reuters reported, citing an anonymous security official, that more than 2,200 diplomats and civilian workers have been evacuated.

5. TSA extends mask mandate through January

Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening checkpoint at Orlando International Airport in May, 2021.

Paul Hennessy | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

The Transportation Security Administration has extended a federal requirement for travelers to wear masks on commercial flights, buses and trains. The mandate, which was set to expire next month, is now in place through Jan. 18. “The purpose of TSA’s mask directive is to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation,” TSA said in a statement. The mandate will now cover traditionally busy travel periods, such as Thanksgiving and the December holidays. The mandate’s extension comes as Covid cases across the U.S. rise due to the highly contagious delta variant.

— Follow all the market action like a pro on CNBC Pro. Get the latest on the pandemic with CNBC’s coronavirus coverage.

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Put Your Smartphone to Work for Your Return to the Workplace

Put Your Smartphone to Work for Your Return to the Office

With some people returning to the office or classroom after more than 18 months of Covid-19 disorder, maintaining social distance remains a problem, especially given the highly contagious Delta variant across the country. Here are a few simple suggestions for using your smartphone to stay informed and safe when you return to the office or school.

Regular reviews of school, community, and state websites can keep you updated on mask requirements, vaccination requirements, quarantines, and other Covid-related news. Get your facts faster by bookmarking these websites that you can open right from your home screen.

Credit…Google; Apple

Open the page you want to bookmark. Steps vary by browser and phone, but if you’re using the Chrome browser on an Android device, tap the “More” menu in the top right corner and select “Add to Home Screen”. On an iOS device with the Safari browser, tap the action menu icon in the lower center of the screen and select “Add to Home Screen”.

In addition to its informative website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has its own mobile app. For local virus news, visit your app store as many states have their own apps to track outbreaks, provide personal exposure notifications, provide vaccine information, and offer general news alerts.

Certain institutions, venues, and employers now require vaccinations, and many New York City companies require proof and will enforce it next month. While your paper vaccination card serves as proof, you can keep it safely at home and digitize it. Some states have electronic vaccination records that you can store in your phone’s digital wallet and view upon request. The Excelsior Pass program in New York is an example.

Credit…Apple; Google

Paper photos of your vaccination card can also act as a digital backup, and some employers may accept the images as proof of vaccination, especially in apps like NYC Covid Safe. However, the card contains personal information, so keep your phone locked when it is not in use. Apple’s iOS software settings provide a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID to help protect the device.

Android users can also set up a screen lock in the system settings. In addition to a PIN or passcode, some phone models (including those from Google and Samsung) use biometric keys such as facial recognition. For added protection, Android users can save vaccination card images in a locked folder in Google Photos – just open the card image, tap the More menu and select Move to Locked Folder.

Updated

Aug. 18, 2021, 5:50 p.m. ET

Socially distant commuting is more of a challenge for people who don’t drive and walk or use public transport to get around. Over the past year, both Apple and Google added coronavirus-related business information to their map apps.

If you’re taking the trains outside of rush hour or want to stroll the less traveled trail, Apple Maps and Google Maps both offer real-time timetables and optional walking routes. Specialized apps like Citymapper cover multiple modes of transport, including bike rentals and ferries. And localized transit apps (like New York City’s MYmta for Android and iOS) can also be useful for service status and updates.

Credit…Google

And when you go to work with your face on your Android phone, the heads up notifications on some models remind you to see where you are going. Activate the function in the digital wellbeing settings.

If a drive-through window is not an option for remotely picking up your breakfast or lunch, there are other ways to minimize your exposure, such as walking around the corner. Loyalty apps from convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Wawa or restaurants (McDonald’s, Panera Bread, and Starbucks, to name a few) offer online ordering and mobile payment to zip things with minimal contact.

And don’t forget contactless payment systems like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay so that you don’t fumble with cash and quickly get through at the cash register or at the subway turnstile. (A contactless credit card from your financial institution is another option that allows you to pay by tapping the card on the till reader.)

Now that you’ve actually made it out of the house, there are a few more apps you might want to consider to help you make the transition. With the mobile version of your company’s favorite video conferencing app, you can leave a conference room and hold a meeting anywhere, even without your computer.

Credit…Google; Zooming

After working remotely for more than a year, it can be especially difficult to leave your fuzzy work colleague when you return to the world. If the breakup worries you, consider an inexpensive streaming webcam that allows you to check your pet in real time using your phone. The Wirecutter site has recommendations for camera options so you can virtually stay in the house until you get home.

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New Zealand central financial institution rate of interest choice after Covid lockdown

New Zealand central bank interest rate decision after Covid lockdown

Workers and shoppers eat on the steps of Freyberg Place in downtown Auckland, New Zealand on October 29, 2020, enjoying the freedom from Covid-19 Alert Level 1.

Lynn Grieveson | Newsroom | Getty Images

New Zealand was widely expected to be the first advanced economy to hike rates, but the central bank left rates unchanged on Wednesday after a Covid case prompted the country to announce a nationwide lockdown the day before.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said in a statement the decision to keep rates at 0.25% was made “in connection with the government’s imposition of level 4 COVID restrictions on activities across New Zealand”.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday when the first Covid case in six months was discovered in Auckland, the country’s largest city.

The city will be on lockdown for seven days starting Wednesday, while the rest of the nation will maintain a three-day lockdown. Level 4 restrictions are the highest in the country and the most restrictive where people must stay at home and can only leave for essential services.

‘Knife edge situation’

By Wednesday morning, the number of cases discovered had risen to seven and was confirmed as a highly transferable Delta variant, according to Reuters.

Paul Bloxham, chief economist for Australia and New Zealand at HSBC, called it an “exceptional 24 hours” and a “very sharp situation”.

“This morning … we find out that it is Delta (variant), and at that point 24 hours ago the market thought the RBNZ would deliver not just 20 but 25 (basis points),” he told CNBC’s Street Signs Asia “.

Ahead of the interest rate decision on Wednesday, Michael Gordon, acting chief economist for New Zealand at the Australian bank Westpac, said he did not expect a rate hike.

“The key here is that the government cannot trust the extent of the (Covid) problem,” he said in a note Tuesday after Ardern’s lock decision.

Analysts mostly expected a rate hike from the central bank, at least until the lockdown was announced. The majority of the 32 economists polled by Reuters expected the central bank to raise the official currency rate by 25 basis points from a record low to 0.50%.

Most central banks around the world have cut interest rates to record lows to prop up their pandemic-hit economies. Governments around the world have incentivized their economies to support businesses.

But New Zealand is among the most successful in the world in keeping its Covid cases in check with tough lockdowns and closings of its borders.

Major central banks in the APAC region are in no hurry to raise key rates … with the exception of New Zealand and Korea.

Maxim Darmet

Fit ratings

Partly due to its zero Covid strategy, the number of Covid cases has so far been kept at around 2,500, including 26 deaths – one of the lowest in the world.

That has helped the economy recover as data shows that economic growth in the first quarter of this year was above expectations. It was mainly driven by strong retail spending, falling unemployment rates and rising house prices.

The combination of minimal Covid restrictions and generous incentives has resulted in a booming economy and rising inflation, leading analysts to expect higher interest rates.

New Zealand dollar is falling

The New Zealand dollar fell to 0.6944 against the US dollar on Wednesday.

The currency has fallen from over 0.70 to over 0.69 since the lockdown was announced on Tuesday.

Bloxham said the New Zealand dollar could rebound once the Covid situation is contained.

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“If (the lockdown) is enough to contain the virus, keep the numbers small and push them back to zero … then you could imagine in a few weeks … there would be some kind of benefit for the New Zealand dollar,” he told the other CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia”.

New Zealand is likely to continue hike rates

With the expected increase now derailed, analysts said it would now depend on the magnitude of the virus situation.

“Regardless of the economic case for higher interest rates, there is nothing to be gained by pushing the (official cash rate) higher now instead of waiting for more clarity about the Covid situation,” said Gordon of Westpac.

He said experience has shown that once restrictions are lifted, activity tends to rebound. “If that happens, the RBNZ will face many of the same problems as before: an economy faced with cost pressures and capacity constraints, with the risk of inflation becoming more stubborn,” he said, adding that the increases will continue will be needed.

Meanwhile, Maxime Darmet, Asia-Pacific economic director at Fitch Ratings, told CNBC that most of the major central banks in the region are unlikely to hike rates anytime soon.

“The major central banks in the APAC region are in no hurry to start raising rates … with the exception of New Zealand and Korea. Generally limited inflationary pressures and Covid-related economic setbacks put APAC central banks ready to keep policy easy, ”Darmet said in an email to CNBC on Tuesday before the New Zealand lockdown was announced.

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Sacklers Threaten to Pull Out of Opioid Settlement With out Broad Authorized Immunity

Sacklers Threaten to Pull Out of Opioid Settlement Without Broad Legal Immunity

At least 2,700 lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of lawsuits have been registered against Purdue, beginning in 2014 when the opioid epidemic peaked. Plaintiffs span a broad spectrum including 48 states, local governments, tribes, hospitals, individuals and caregivers of infants born with symptoms of withdrawal from opioids, all of whom are devastated and financially exhausted from opioids.

In the last few years, more and more cases, individual sackers have been named themselves.

Nearly two years ago, Purdue filed for bankruptcy restructuring that automatically suspended those lawsuits. However, the Sacklers themselves did not file for bankruptcy, despite insisting that they too benefit from their company’s expected indemnities.

The issue of releases for the Sacklers and other third parties is at the center of opposition to the bankruptcy scheme that is now being pursued by nine states, including Maryland, Washington and Connecticut. The District of Columbia, the Federal Department of Justice and the U.S. Trustee, a Department of Justice program that monitors bankruptcy cases, as well as several Canadian local governments and First Nations have joined in the opposition.

Under applicable law of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where the Judge Drain Court is located, the judge may grant exemptions to the Sacklers and other third parties who have not filed for bankruptcy. But, by and large, the issue is unresolved.

Other federal districts prohibit it. The issue has been taken up by members of Congress and could well lead to an appeal by the opponents if Judge Drain approves the plan. The pounding questions of contradicting attorneys so far should not only raise questions about the plan, but lay a foundation for such appeals.

Alain Delaquérière contributed to the research.

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WHO says some information suggests elevated danger of hospitalization

WHO says some data suggests increased risk of hospitalization

Maria Van Kerkhove, Head of the Emerging Diseases and Zoonosis Division of the World Health Organization, speaks during a press conference following a meeting of the Emergency Committee on the new coronavirus in Geneva on January 22, 2020.

Pierre Albouy | AFP | Getty Images

A senior World Health Organization official said Tuesday that data from some countries may suggest that the Delta variant puts those infected at increased risk of hospitalization, but doesn’t necessarily kill more people than other strains.

“In terms of severity, we’ve seen some countries suggest an increased risk of hospitalization for people with a Delta variant. We haven’t seen this lead to an increased death rate, ”said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical director on Covid-19. People infected with the Delta variant “didn’t die more often than the other strains,” she said.

Health officials have been grappling with the question for months, waiting for real data in countries where the delta variant is widespread. Van Kerkhove said WHO officials meet daily to discuss the rapidly spreading variant.

Like other strains, the Delta variant is especially dangerous for people with underlying conditions like obesity, diabetes, or heart disease, say WHO officials. However, it is far more contagious than other varieties, so it infects more people and puts a strain on global health systems.

“The risk factors for serious illness and death are the same,” said Van Kerkhove. “If you have underlying illnesses, regardless of your age, you have an increased risk of hospitalization.”

The Delta variant also quickly overtakes all other variants wherever it is recognized, she said.

“The prevalence of the lambda variant is falling … and the delta variant is increasing,” said Van Kerhove. “The delta variant quickly replaces other variants that are in circulation wherever it is identified.”

It is spreading in Central and South American countries and is quickly overtaking the lambda variant that is currently predominant there.

“We still don’t know exactly what impact the delta will have on Latin American countries,” said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, Incident Manager for the Pan American Health Organization, at a briefing last week.

The delta variant, first discovered by scientists in India in October, has so far spread to at least 142 countries. Found only a few months ago in the US, it now accounts for more than 90% of all sequenced cases, according to the CDC.

The most at risk in the US have been fully vaccinated, with booster doses approved on Friday for people with compromised immune systems and available immediately for administration.

There are currently discussions about opening booster doses to the general population, a move that would violate WHO’s strict recommendations to share doses with the rest of the world before booster doses are given to people who have already received their first vaccinations .

More than 200 million people worldwide have contracted Covid since the pandemic began, doubling from 100 million cases in the past six months. With the more transferable Delta variant spreading rapidly, the number could easily hit 300 million early next year, WHO officials said last week.

“Whether we reach 300 million and how quickly we get there depends on all of us,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week.

– CNBC’s Robert Towey contributed to this report.

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Racial Inequities Persist in Well being Care Regardless of Expanded Insurance coverage

Racial Inequities Persist in Health Care Despite Expanded Insurance

In Dr. Johnston’s hometown St. Louis, as in other cities, fewer health care providers and specialists are found in low-income and minority neighborhoods, which is a function of structural racism and a legacy of residential segregation, Dr. Johnston said.

“It’s not a question of insurance — it has more to do with the supply side,” he added. “If you want to access a good specialist, your choice of cardiologists is going to be different if you live out in the counties that are more affluent versus if you live in the poor areas in northern St. Louis.”

Another study in the journal compared health care spending by race and ethnicity, finding that at $8,141 per year, spending for white individuals is higher than for Americans of other races and ethnicities, and the portion of it spent on outpatient care is higher than the average.

Health care spending for Black individuals is $7,361 per year, and a smaller proportion of the funds are spent on outpatient care. The amounts that go to pay for care of Black people in an emergency room and hospital are 12 percent and 19 percent higher, respectively, than the nationwide averages.

“This is about poverty, geography and where people live and where primary care clinics are located, and it is about health insurance,” said Joseph Dieleman, an associate professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle and an author of the study.

But the difference also reflects patient behavior. “It is also about people’s past experiences with the health care system and the quality of care they or their loved ones have received, which leads to hesitation or resistance to accessing health care early,” Dr. Dieleman said.

The findings may explain some of the disparities in health outcomes, though social and economic factors also play a role, among them poverty, so-called food deserts and neighborhoods that expose residents to pollution and offer few opportunities for physical exercise and recreation.

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NIH director says new Israel information is constructing case within the U.S.

NIH director says new Israel data is building case in the U.S.

New data from Israel on the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines over time is causing U.S. health leaders to rethink their position on vaccine booster shots in the U.S., National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins said Tuesday.

“The people who got immunized in January are the ones that are now having more breakthrough cases,” Collins said during an interview on “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” referring to Covid infections in fully vaccinated individuals. Israel released new data Monday showing a reduction in the effectiveness of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine against severe illness among people 65 and older who were fully vaccinated in January or February.

NIH Director Fr. Francis Collins holds up a model of the coronavirus as he testifies before a hearing looking into the budget estimates for National Institute of Health (NIH) and the state of medical research on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on May 26, 2021.

Sarah Silbiger | AFP | Getty Images

Collins said the rise in so-called breakthrough cases in Israel is likely due to a combination of the highly contagious delta variant and Covid vaccine protection waning over time.

“Mostly, of course, these are symptomatic, but not serious,” he said. “But you’re starting to see a little bit of a trend toward some of those requiring hospitalization.”

Collins’ comments come as federal health officials are expected to recommend that most people in the U.S. who are eligible for Covid vaccinations should get booster shots eight months after their second doses.

The federal guidance, which would apply only to the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, could go into effect as early as mid-September, pending FDA authorization, a person familiar with the discussions told CNBC.

The New York Times reported Monday that federal health officials are particularly concerned about data from Israel, where Covid vaccinations began ahead of many other countries. The data reportedly showed that for people vaccinated in January who are age 65 and older, the Pfizer vaccine was less than 55% effective against severe disease and hospitalization.

Collins said Tuesday that federal officials are starting to see the same thing in U.S. data.

“Although right now, it still as if our vaccine protection is working really well,” he said. “But we don’t want to wait until it’s like oh, too late. So that’s why we’re looking at the data.”

Up until now, federal officials haven’t recommended booster doses for the general public. On Friday, they approved administering Covid booster shots of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines to Americans with weakened immune systems, which includes cancer and HIV patients and people who have had organ transplants.

Covid vaccine makers, including Pfizer and Moderna, have repeatedly contended that everyone will eventually need a booster shot and potentially extra doses every year, just like for the seasonal flu.

The NIH, Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a joint statement Tuesday saying they have a “rigorous process” to determine when boosters would be necessary.

“This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data – which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively,” the agencies said. “We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed.”

On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech said they have submitted early stage clinical trial data to the FDA as part of their U.S. application seeking authorization of a Covid vaccine booster for everyone 16 and older. The companies said they would seek approval for a booster dose via a supplement to their application once the agency grants the vaccine full approval.

If the booster shots are approved, the U.S. would likely vaccinate nursing homes, health-care providers and the elderly first, Collins said Tuesday. He said “ideally” people should stick with the same manufacturer they got their first two doses from.

“But if for some reason you don’t have access to it, well, then get the other one,” he said. “Again, I’d feel more comfortable as a scientist fixing our plans on real data, and that means sticking to the same kind of vaccine that you got to begin with.”

–CNBC’s Tom Franck contributed to this report.