Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged rich countries to hold off on giving third doses of coronavirus vaccines to their residents before people in other countries can even get their first doses.
The WHO said this is a dangerous approach, because it could divert doses from the developing world. “What part of ‘this is a global crisis,’ are we not getting? This is still a global crisis,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director with the WHO Health Emergencies Program. “There’s some people who want to have their cake and eat it, then they make some more cake, and they want to eat that as well,” he added.
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
Q: I am fully vaccinated. When should I still wear my mask?
A: With the Delta variant on the rise, several local health officials have encouraged even the fully vaccinated to wear masks indoors. The World Health Organization has issued similar guidance, while the CDC has continued to say that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks under most circumstances.
Wen said several factors are at play here, including your health and the vaccination status of those in your household. Immunocompromised people should be wearing a mask in all indoor settings where they could be exposed to unvaccinated people.
The level of coronavirus infection and the rate of vaccination in your community is another important factor, Wen said.
“Risk is cumulative. If you have multiple encounters every day with unvaccinated people, and there is a high level of community transmission in your area, your chances of having a breakthrough infection after vaccination will increase. You can reduce that risk by wearing a mask in the highest risk settings,” she said.
TOP 3 READS OF THE WEEK
Unvaccinated healthcare workers won’t get paid in France
France and Greece both announced new vaccine requirements this week, following in the footsteps of Italy, which made vaccinations compulsory for health employees in April. The UK government has previously said it will mandate shots for care home staff from October. France said those who refuse would be suspended without pay.
But not all health care workers are happy with the move. In Italy, several court challenges launched by those who do not want to get vaccinated are being heard this week. In the UK, a petition against the plan to make vaccines compulsory has attracted more than 72,000 signatures.
COVAX signs deal for 550 million Chinese Covid-19 vaccines amid questions over efficacy
COVAX’s rollout fell behind schedule earlier this year, after a coronavirus crisis in India meant the country’s biggest vaccine manufacturer failed to deliver millions of shots on time, so the boost in supply is welcome news.
However, the announcement also comes as Chinese vaccines face growing scrutiny over their efficacy. Both Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines have been validated by WHO for emergency use, although trials so far show both have a lower efficacy against Covid-19 than their mRNA counterparts.
Indonesia’s epidemic might be even worse than it looks
Nearly half of Jakarta’s residents may have contracted Covid-19, according to a health survey — more than 12 times the number of cases officially recorded in the Indonesian capital at the time when the research was carried out.
Hospitals across the country, notably on the island of Java — where Jakarta is located — have been pushed to the brink by the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, with several cities including the capital placed under partial lockdown.
TOP TIP
There is nothing quite like an alfresco workout, with its fresh air, changing scenery and much lower risk of coronavirus infection. But when temperatures soar, beware. Exercising in hot weather stresses your body, especially if the humidity is high.