Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 10-15-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for October 15th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A major study shows infections among school-aged children in England are “high and rising.” That probably ups the intensity of the debate over kids and vaccines. The reproduction rate of those aged 17 and younger was 1.18, meaning on average every 10 infected young people are passing it on to about 12 others.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>From the gee I wish we’d known this earlier department, two new international studies show the immune protection from two doses of Pfizer drops off after a mere two months. One study found the drop especially true for men, people 65 and older, and those with immunosuppression. The study also found immunity lasts longer from a vaccination if you’ve already had a natural case of COVID-19.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Penn State College of Medicine researchers found more than half of the 236 million people diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms for up to six months after recovering. These include tiredness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sore joints and loss of taste or smell. The research team said healthcare officials should get ready for all those survivors who’ll need care for psychological and physical conditions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>How do airline passengers feel about vaccine mandates to fly? Well, it’s America, so the answer is, it’s split. That’s according to the travel website Skift’s poll. 45% definitely want a mandate, 23% don’t care either way, and 33% are against it. The older the person, the more likely they are to be in favor of requiring vaccinations to fly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With all the stories of overworked nurses with PTSD and of nurses who are getting fired or quitting because of vaccine mandates, you’d think it wouldn’t be a very alluring occupation right now. But applications to nursing schools are actually rising. Up 5.6% in 2020 according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and number are also trendi