Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 10-14-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for October 14th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After a 19-month freeze, the United States will open its land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel. Fully vaccinated foreign nationals can enter the U.S. for whatever reason starting early November. Travelers will be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard Customs and Border Protection admissions process, and no testing will be required to enter by land or sea.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Despite full steam ahead by the U.S. administration and other countries, the Director General of the World Health Organization called booster shots while initial inoculations lag in some countries is "immoral, unfair, and unjust.” He went on to say, "To start boosters is really the worst we can do as a global community."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A federal judge ruled the state of New York can’t impose a vaccine mandate on healthcare workers and not allow their employers to consider religious exemption requests. The judge said the vaccination requirement conflicted with the workers’ federally protected right to seek religious accommodations from their employers. The Governor vowed to fight the decision. At least 24 states have imposed vaccine requirements on workers, usually in healthcare.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Boeing told employees they have to be vaccinated and if they don’t, they might get fired. Deadline is December 8 and the company said compliance is a condition of employment. This affects about 125,000 U.S.-based employees. The International Association of Machinists union said it’s their responsibility to defend and advocate for members, but the fact is the membership is polarized on the issue.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So can you get a booster from a different vaccine than your original doses? A new NIH study found yes, it’s safe and effective. However, Moderna and Pfizer were found to spark a stronger immune system response than Johnson &amp; Johnson. The study found those that got J&amp;J got stro