The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 4.5 million people globally, affecting over 219 million people.
And we are still figuring out how to overcome this deadly pandemic, while the coronavirus continues to mutate, giving rise to new variants that are more contagious than the original strain.
Researchers are still learning about the virus. Thankfully, we have vaccines to prevent the disease, but we do not have specific drugs or treatments for people who get infected by the virus.
HuffPost has come up with a few important things that we learned about the virus in August.
US recommends booster shots starting this month
There has been a lot of debate going on whether to approve a third (booster) dose of vaccines in the general population. In August, the Biden administration announced that it would recommend Pfizer and Moderna booster shots to all Americans. https://www.myhealthyclick.com/biden-administration-officials-say-covid-booster-shots-to-start-in-september/
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently weighing the evidence. A booster dose has already been approved for immunocompromised people.
Moderna COVID vaccine generates more antibodies than Pfizer vaccine
Last month, a Belgium study published in JAMA found that the Moderna vaccine generated twice the antibodies of the Pfizer vaccine, according to HuffPost. However, both vaccines have been offering high levels of antibodies, preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Delta may increase hospitalization risk
The highly contagious Delta variant, which was first identified in India, has created havoc in most countries, including the United States. A new UK study found that people infected with the Delta variant from March 2021 to May 2021 were twice as likely as those infected with the alpha variant to be hospitalized, according to HuffPost.
Fully vaccinated breastfeeding women could help protect their babies against COVID-19
A study published last month found that breast milk of fully vaccinated women found to have significant antibodies that could help the infant to fight the virus.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have been recommending women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to get vaccinated, but still, the immunization rates among that group have been low. The story appeared on HuffPost.
