If you want the best protection from the Delta variant of COVID that’s causing case numbers to rise in Mississippi, you need to get your second shot. During a visit with SuperTalk Mississippi on The Gallo Show this morning, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs encouraged residents to get that second dose, no matter how long it’s been since you got the first shot.
“We have too many Mississippians out there that have one shot of the Pfizer or Moderna, and we know that for the Delta variant that’s really not even remotely adequate. So if you’re one of those folks who’ve had one shot and think ‘I’m pretty good’, please go out and get your second shot.”
The Delta strain accounted for 78% of new cases between June 16th and 25th, and this strain is more contagious and is infecting the younger population more than previous strains. Dobbs told us that a lot of Mississippians have had COVID, so they believe they have a natural immunity. But the Delta variant is good at getting around that, another strong argument for making sure to get that second dose.
What about the possibility of a booster shot? Pfizer plans to seek emergency authorization for a third booster that protects better against the Delta variant, but Dobbs told us most vaccinated people have a strong immunity for 8 months and beyond so a third dose wouldn’t be necessary for everybody. “I think there is a subgroup of folks who do need to look at getting a booster dose. If you’re a cancer patient, if you have auto-immune disorders, if you have kidney failure. Sometimes it’s just older folks. They don’t get a good response sometimes to just two doses, but they do have a good response after three doses.”
