The delta variant of the coronavirus, which was first detected in India, may increase the risk of hospital admission among COVID-19 patients two-fold, in comparison with the alpha variant, first identified in the UK, suggested a study from Scotland. 

Investigators assessed 19,543 COVID-19 cases and 377 hospitalizations among 5.4 million individuals. This included 7,723 cases and 134 hospitalizations in patients with the delta variant. The risk of hospitalization was found to be nearly double with the delta variant compared to the alpha variant. The risk was especially escalated in those with five or more medical conditions known to contribute to more severe disease. Investigators also noted that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines provide strong protection; however, not as strong as the protection against the alpha variant. Two weeks following the second dose, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided 79% protection against infection from the delta variant, compared to 92% protection against the alpha variant, while the AstraZeneca vaccine provided 60% protection against delta variant compared to 73% against infection from the alpha variant. The findings are published in The Lancet… (Reuters, June 15, 2021)