Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 11-22-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for November 22nd, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In many of our minds, the year 2020 stands out as the most difficult where COVID-19 is concerned. However, in the United States, the number of 2021 coronavirus deaths have surpassed the total for 2020. And that is with the nation’s government and public health leaders having access to vaccines. The number will most definitely rise in the remaining weeks of the year. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But the country’s answer is, more vaccine. The FDA and CDC did as expected and expanded eligibility for booster shots to all adults Friday, offering additional protection for all those 18 and above who had their second shot of Pfizer or Moderna at least six months prior. Boosters had already been approved for J&amp;J’s one-dose vaccine, for two months after the primary dose.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>New and renewed restrictions in several European countries resulted in protests, some of them violent, and some leading to dozens of arrests. These are not small demonstrations, ranging from hundreds of participants in some cities to tens of thousands in Belgium. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Few people are wearing masks, political rallies, concerts, and home gatherings have resumed, and people busily shop in crowded marketplaces. This is in Zimbabwe. And the same is happening across much of Africa, which is less than 6% vaccinated. The World Health Organization says infections have been dropping there since July, and Africa makes up just 3% of the global total of COVID-deaths. The Americas account for 46% of them. So seriously, what is going on? Scientists have absolutely no clue. Some say it’s the continent’s relative youth, some say the populations are more spread out and are outdoors more, some say it’s genetics or past infections with parasitic diseases.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For those who still think we should find out how all this happened, US government documents newly released under the Freedom of Information Act show the Wuhan Institute