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THE DELTA VARIANT

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By: Melody Rabor-Dizon

 

What we know so far:

• CDC recognizes Delta as a ‘variant of concern’ in the US, meaning it poses an increased risk of transmission and severity of disease (as measured by hospitalizations and deaths).

• Delta variant has become the dominant strain, replacing B.1.1.7 (called the Alpha strain). It’s also driving new cases in people ages 12 to 20, associated with increased disease severity, spreading faster and easier than the original strain of COVID-19

• The Delta variant, aka B.1.617.2, was originally detected in India in December 2020, according to the CDC.

Why is the Delta variant so concerning?

• The Delta variant has several mutations on the spike protein of SARSCoV- 2, which can help it spread more easily than other forms of the virus and poses a “potential reduction” in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and the ability of some monoclonal antibody treatments to work against the virus.

• Delta is also potentially problematic because “it’s clear that young people are at risk,” most of whom aren’t yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

What are the symptoms of the Delta variant?

• It’s more like a bad cold; people might think they’ve just got some sort of seasonal cold.

• Headache is the top symptom, followed by sore throat, runny nose, and fever.

• Cough, [though] it’s rarer, the loss of smell isn’t among the top 10 reported symptoms of Delta.

• It has been linked with more GI issues, including diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and nausea.

Are vaccines effective against the Delta variant?

• Somewhat a yes-ish (not that convincing) due to Delta causing a two-fold reduction in neutralizing titers against vaccinated people by targeting the efficacy of the vaccine

• How much less protective the COVID-19 vaccines are against Delta in the real world isn’t clear at this point.

Can Your Employer Require You to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine? (there are still some exceptions to the rule)

• Yes, your employer can mandate that you get the vaccine if you want to keep working for them.

• Federal employment laws don’t interfere with a company’s ability to require employees to get vaccinated if they’re going into an office or other shared workspace.

• “The EEOC’s guidance says that requiring vaccination does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act or other federal employment laws. “It is not illegal to require employees to get a vaccine as a condition of employment.”

Is It a HIPAA Violation to Ask About a COVID Vaccine?

• The federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19,” the EEOC says. “These principles apply if an employee gets the vaccine in the community or from the employer.”

• “Employers should keep in mind that because some individuals or demographic groups may face greater barriers to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination than others, some employees may be more likely to be negatively impacted by a vaccination requirement.”

• The EEOC also says that it would be “unlawful” to have vaccination requirements that treat employees differently based on disability, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, or genetic information, “unless there is a legitimate non-discriminatory reason.”

Are there any exceptions to employers requiring you to get a COVID vaccine?

• The EEOC makes it clear that federal employment law says that “in some circumstances,” the law will require employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” for “employees who, because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, do not get vaccinated for COVID-19, unless providing an accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business.”

Can you be fired for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

• Technically, yes, per lawmakers, it’s not necessarily a given. Obviously if you have a health reason why you can’t get vaccinated or qualify for a religious exemption, this shouldn’t be an issue from a legal perspective. But if you don’t want to get vaccinated and don’t qualify for an exemption, your workplace will need to make some hard choices.

• “Employers don’t have to fire people, but they will have to make a decision on whether they’re going to enforce mandatory vaccine requirements. “It’s possible if someone just refuses to get vaccinated and that’s a condition of coming back to work, that person could be fired, according to EEOC guidance.”

• There is also a potential of being put on unpaid leave if or until requirements change at some point. Employers with vaccine mandates “don’t have to fire everyone, but if they’re going to take adverse actions against people who don’t want to get vaccinated, they have to do it for everyone,” Stuart says.

• If you’re unsure of your company’s policy, talk to your HR manager. They should be able to help guide you.

My few cents:

Though, I understand and realize that people can refuse the vaccine, there must be a moral or professional obligation to separate themselves from the vaccinated ones. The virus did not go away, in fact it is mutating. If you decide against the vaccine, please stay home or do everything necessary not to expose yourself to the virus. The vaccinated ones took it upon ourselves to protect us, protect the community and contribute to the wellness and wellbeing of each one. If I may just ask tonhelp protect everyone’s health including your own to decrease your risk of contracting the virus by following all social distancing, masking and frequently hand washing procedures, that would be a step in the right direction. I feel it being unfair to those who are doing more, doing above and beyond what is being asked of them and have the unvaccinated people take that for granted. Let’s care enough to know the science behind it all, to know the facts and the numbers that support the statistics. It’s really the only way to get past this pandemic.

I hold all of you, dear readers in my heart and my prayers. Stay safe, vaccinate and follow guidance.

While we are trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

Sources: CDC, WHO, Health.com

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