The Delta variant of the coronavirus has been in the news a lot lately. Here’s what we know:

• The Delta variant has not been detected yet in Whatcom County, but since it’s now the cause of 1 out of 4 new COVID cases in the U.S. and hundreds of cases have been detected in the Puget Sound region, it’s reasonable to assume that it’s already here or will be soon.
• The Delta variant is approximately 50%-60% more contagious than the Alpha variant—which is already 50% more transmissible than the original coronavirus. 
• Studies show that with the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the protection from the Delta variant from the first dose is much less than the protection from the other variants, but getting both doses provides strong protection. 
• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s effectiveness against the Delta variant is still being studied, but early results indicate that it is also effective.

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the Delta variant is to get vaccinated. If you’ve already gotten one dose of either Pfizer or Moderna, be sure to get your second dose. To find a vaccine provider near you, go to vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov. 

The more the coronavirus spreads, the more likely it is to mutate into a variant that can evade our vaccines. Stopping the virus now is the best way to prevent future, more dangerous mutations.

For more information on coronavirus variants in Washington, please visit DOH’s COVID-19 Variants page.