The Delta variant of COVID-19 is expected to soon account for nearly all new coronavirus infections in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said.
“Based on available scientific evidence, the Delta variant is more transmissible than other circulating variants and we estimate that by the end of August it will represent 90% of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the European Union,” ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said.
In her words, “unfortunately, preliminary data shows that it can also infect individuals that have received only one dose of the currently available vaccines. It is very likely that the Delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer, particularly among younger individuals that are not targeted for vaccination. This could cause a risk for the more vulnerable individuals to be infected and experience severe illness and death if they are not fully vaccinated.”
The ECDC said the vaccination campaigns must be accelerated. The second COVID-19 vaccine doses should also be administered as early as possible.
Nevertheless, Ammon stressed that there is still hope.
“The good news is that having received two doses of any of the currently available vaccines provides high protection against this variant and its consequences. However, about 30 percent of individuals older than 80 years and about 40 percent of individuals older than 60 years have not yet received a full vaccination course in the European Union,” said the director.
