Vaccines are effective against the delta variant of the coronavirus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told NBC’s "Today" show on Wednesday.
"If you are vaccinated, you are safe from the variants that are circulating here in the United States," Walensky said.
Regarding some doctors recommending that those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine get a booster shot, she emphasized that "We have every reason to believe … J&J will perform against the delta variant."
She added that for those who say there is no harm in getting a booster shot just to be on the safe side that the effectiveness of booster shots are "unstudied."
She also tried to clear up confusion over masks and vaccine guidance, saying that "Those masking policies are not to protect the vaccinated, they’re to protect the unvaccinated."
The delta variant is more transmissible than previous strains, and doctors are trying to understand whether it is also more deadly, The Washington Times reported.
Some cities in the United States such as Los Angeles have decided to reimpose mask mandates, even for those who are vaccinated, given the uncertainty around the variant.
Walensky told the "Today" show that states and cities are free to issue rules tailored to their regions, where the spread of the coronavirus might be more prevalent.
Commenting on the World Health Organization’s recommendations that a vaccinated person should not only be wearing a mask but also continue to practice social distancing, Walensky said that the WHO has to issue guidelines and make recommendations to the world, where conditions might be worse than in the U.S.
She emphasized that there are places around the world that are surging, and internationally only about 15% of the world is vaccinated, a much lower percentge than in the U.S.
Walensky stressed, however, that "there are areas of this country where …. they have low vaccination rates and there are areas that have more disease," adding that, because of these variable factors, the CDC suggests "that you look to your local policies."
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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