2 vaccine doses strongly protect against Delta variant

Two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are "strongly protective" against the Delta variant, with protection against severe disease and death remaining high.

A study cited by Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-dela Paz indicates that individuals who received the first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer are 33% less at risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms from the Delta variant.

The same study showed that a second dose of AstraZeneca boosts defense against the Delta variant by 60%, while a second dose of Pfizer provides 88% more protection.

Data from the United Kingdom shows that while vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection by the Delta variant is lower, protection against severe disease is almost as effective.

A separate study in The Lancet suggests that vaccinated individuals are less likely to be hospitalized due to the Delta variant compared to unvaccinated individuals.

Most vaccinated individuals who contracted COVID-19 only experienced mild symptoms, indicating vaccines protect against severe disease caused by the Delta variant.

The Philippines has detected 17 Delta variant cases, all of whom were inbound international travelers or returning overseas Filipinos.

The WHO assigned the Greek alphabet name Delta to the variant previously known as the 'Indian variant' to avoid stigmatization.