LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The combination of low vaccination rates and the new 'Delta' variant of COVID-19 could be dangerous for people who are not yet vaccinated, according to a University of Louisville public health researcher. 

What You Need To Know

  • Doctors say the Delta coronavirus variant is deadlier and more contagious than others

  • Medical experts say that vaccinated people are safe from its harmful impacts, but could eventually require a booster shot if a low vaccination rate continues

  • Public health researcher Dr. Mark Burns feels it's possible to "vaccinate our way out of this," but otherwises there will likely be more virus variants

 

However, it could also eventually impact people who have been vaccinated. UofL Health Epidemiologist Dr. Mark Burns feels it's possible to "vaccinate our way out of this"; if too few people are vaccinated, though, variants could make even the vaccinated vulnerable and make booster shots necessary. 

Burns says Delta is deadlier and more contagious, and is accounting for more cases in the US. 

"A lot of it is a result of people not being vaccinated," Burns says. 

He feels that, if more people don't get inoculated against COVID-19, there will be even more, stronger variants. 

"[Viruses] can mutate their way around vaccines, and if this goes on long enough and we get enough replications and mutation, potentially they could work their way around vaccines. And at that point, we would all be somewhat vulnerable," Burns claims. 

In that case, he says booster shots would be necessary for those who've already been vaccinated. 

As of Monday June 21, 49% of Kentucky's population was vaccinated with at least one dose. That's according to Gov. Beshear's Team Kentucky dashboard. 

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