The director of the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, Fernando Simón , has once again contradicted himself by relativizing the increase in incidence with the Delta variant. If this Monday he rejected that the increase in that incidence, which already reaches 100 cases, is not associated with the delta variant of the covid (the predominant one in India) that affects between 3 and 4% of infections nationwide , A week ago he added that with the new data “it seems that it is more transmissible .”
In this same context, Fernando Simón assured that “the delta variant is a variant that has two specific mutations that are of great interest. They could represent an immune escape. In fact, according to the latest data we have from the United Kingdom, they could reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine by a percentage point and it could be something more transmissible ”, he repeated.
Thus, the head of the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, replied this week that the increase “globally in infections is now not associated with the delta variant but rather that we have non-immune populations among which the virus is circulating.” Simón has specified, who has also warned that “until the vaccination coverage with the full schedule provided is achieved (70% of the population), it is necessary to follow carefully”.
The expert has asked “great caution” when evaluating the studies on the delta variant carried out in the United Kingdom, since he has said that “you have to give the data the uncertainty they have.” But it is that on this same aspect he also said a few days ago that “in the United Kingdom information of greater transmissibility is being given, and it will be more transmissible”.
What does seem clear is that the delta variant could be more transmissible ” and marginally escape the immunity of the vaccine when there is only one dose,” said the epidemiologist, explaining that last week’s reports set the efficacy at 31% of a dose against the variant and this week it seems to be that it is the 35% ».
Many uncertainties and perhaps a lot of confusion, especially for the population that the only thing that generally wants is to be vaccinated. The truth, and many researchers agree, is that if there were a new wave, it would not be as important as the previous ones. Precisely Simón recalled that ” increases of greater or lesser magnitude will be possible, but in no way like the ones we have experienced previously .”
