Pfizer vaccine offers 88% efficacy against delta variant

JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

Two shots of the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective against the new and rapidly spreading delta variant of COVID-19.

A study of 19,000 people from Public Health England, published Wednesday, found that both doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines offer protection against symptoms from both the alpha and delta variants.

The Pfizer vaccine has a 93.7% effectiveness rate at preventing symptomatic alpha infections, and 88% for the delta variant.

Two doses of AstraZeneca are 74.5% effective at preventing alpha infections, and 67% for the delta variant.

However, the effectiveness of the vaccines takes a significant dive if the patient only receives one dose of either vaccine.

The study found both vaccine brands to be slightly more than 48% effective against the alpha variant and only about 30% effective against the delta variant if only one dose was administered. 

Those who conducted the study suggest prioritizing second doses, especially in vulnerable populations, to prevent coronavirus outbreaks effectively.