Despite the emergence of delta as the dominant variant of Covid-19 in the U.S., nearly all of the antibodies produced by the Pfizer vaccine are able to neutralize it, according to a study published Monday, underscoring the protection offered by vaccinations in a pandemic where nearly all cases—and virtually all serious cases—are among the unvaccinated.
“In face of vaccination, delta is relatively a wimpy virus,” said Ali Ellebedy, a senior co-author of the study and a professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, in a press release announcing the study. “If we had a variant that was more resistant like beta but spread as easily as delta, we’d be in more trouble.”