We’re Back in Lockdown at Our Home… Thanks to the Delta Variant

Last Friday, I came across some alarming news: the Israeli Health Ministry reported that early findings indicate the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing severe illness and hospitalization from the Delta variant has dropped to 39%. That’s a significant decrease from the 95% efficacy noted earlier this year. I was casually scrolling through my emails when I stumbled upon this article, and I had to stop and read it twice. Panic set in.

To be fair, there are important details that should temper my (and your) alarm: the 39% efficacy rate was observed over just a two-week period, from June 20 to July 17; the study was relatively small; and it hasn’t yet undergone peer review. Even Dr. Mark Thompson, who heads Israel’s Covid-19 advisory panel, remarked to The New York Times about the challenges of obtaining accurate vaccine effectiveness estimates. Importantly, this data doesn’t imply that 61% of vaccinated individuals contracted Covid; rather, it suggests that vaccinated individuals are now just 39% less likely to contract Covid compared to their unvaccinated counterparts, which is quite a change.

But then there’s Delta.

The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, meaning it delivers messenger RNA to the body. This RNA instructs cells to create a spike protein from the virus, which the immune system identifies as a threat and responds to by generating antibodies—resulting in Covid immunity. However, the Delta variant has mutations on its spike protein that might undermine the vaccine’s effectiveness. If one mRNA vaccine shows 39% efficacy, I can only worry that the Moderna vaccine—the one I received—will yield similar results.

Time to Sound the Alarm.

The Delta Variant Is More Contagious

But wait, there’s more. National Geographic highlights that Delta’s spike protein has mutations that change its interaction with human cells, including lung cells, making it easier for the virus to infect people. Simply put, Delta is significantly more transmissible. Researchers from the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub, working alongside the CDC, foresee a steady rise in Covid cases in the U.S., peaking in mid-October, potentially resulting in triple the current death toll. The worst-case scenario could see numbers akin to last winter, depending heavily on vaccination rates and mitigation strategies like masking and social distancing.

I live in a state that seems to be struggling with vaccine uptake and mitigation measures. I know parents who held unmasked pool parties as early as June 2020. Will this new Delta variant convince them to vaccinate, wear masks, or stop their reckless behavior? I seriously doubt it.

Sure, the data indicates that the Pfizer vaccine remains about 91.4% effective against severe illness! Fantastic. But I’m more concerned about asymptomatic Delta. I’m not worried about my husband or myself getting it asymptomatically; my focus is on my three unvaccinated sons, who have no protection against COVID-19.

Lockdown Commences.

I’m determined to shield my children from Delta.

The reality is that I’ve been a protective mama bear throughout this pandemic, and I won’t stop now. As of July 21, the Delta variant accounted for more than 83% of Covid cases in the U.S., a significant rise from just 30% the previous month. Dr. Sarah Lawson, a pediatric expert at a local hospital, stated that “this variant is spreading rapidly… We are particularly concerned about children under 12 who currently cannot access the vaccine.”

Even if some evidence suggests Delta isn’t more dangerous for children than other variants, my concerns remain. As Amanda Rojas, a public health professor, mentioned, “If more children are getting infected, we should anticipate seeing more severe cases.” It’s all about law of averages.

The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends that kids wear masks outdoors. My children wear masks outside, while their peers do not, leaving my kids with no one to play with. It raises tough questions: Should I let them play with kids who attended school or camp wearing masks? If they do, should it be outdoors and masked? With Delta being so much more transmissible, should I change my stance?

What about kids who are home, with vaccinated parents who work outside? Should breakthrough cases be a concern if the efficacy rate is just 39%? My sons’ best friend’s mom works in a university—essentially a hotbed of Covid. She was among the first to get vaccinated and wears a mask.

But my husband teaches high school. He’ll wear a mask and has an advanced ventilation system in place, but he’ll still be in a packed classroom full of unvaccinated students. I feel like I’ve been thrown back into a state of panic reminiscent of October 2020.

Back to using hand sanitizer excessively. Back to feeling agoraphobic. My eleven-year-old enjoyed a day out at a bookstore last week, and now I feel like crying—he won’t be able to go back for months. I took my youngest to a quaint general store for some candy, and while he was thrilled to pick out jellybeans for his brothers, we’ve reverted to lockdown. How do I break this news to my boys?

I know severe cases among children are rare, but we recently dealt with croup, and my kids were incredibly sick. They’re still coughing. What if they were to contract the Delta variant? I can’t take that chance. I’ve worked too hard to keep them safe thus far.

Before, we were hopeful for a vaccine. Now, I’m pinning my hopes on one for children. I hope it becomes available soon so I can stop living in a constant state of anxiety. Until then, we’re staying inside. Again.

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Probable Search Queries:

Summary: The emergence of the Delta variant has led to increased concerns about COVID-19, particularly for unvaccinated children. With the effectiveness of vaccines showing a decline, many families are re-entering lockdowns to protect their loved ones. As the pandemic continues to evolve, parents are left grappling with tough decisions regarding their children’s safety and social interactions.