Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 7-15-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for July 15th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It’s a bad combination in the U.S.; young and unvaccinated. They’re the ones showing up at hospitals across the country, some even landing in ICU and on ventilators. The CDC says slightly fewer than half of 18 to 24 and 25 to 39-year-olds are fully vaccinated. Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says the delta variant will keep causing problems maybe into October and will get worse before it gets better.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>COVID-19 is sparking protests in several countries. In addition to uprisings in Cuba, tear gas was used on protesters in Paris who railed against plans to require a vaccine certificate or negative PCR test to get into bars, restaurants, and cinemas. And in Greece, thousands gathered in the two largest cities protesting plans to make vaccines available to children as young as 15 without parental consent.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The U.S. government reported overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year amidst the pandemic. It’s a 29% increase over 2020. Experts say lockdowns and restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get. Fentanyl was involved in more than 60% of overdose deaths last year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking of lockdowns, Spain's Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that mandating strict home confinement last year was unconstitutional. The government used a state of emergency to temporarily limit civil liberties, but the ruling annulled some articles of the decree related to free movement of citizens. That opens the door to cancelling fines for those who violated restrictions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A homoeopathic doctor in California became the first to face federal charges over fake COVID-19 immunizations and falsified vaccine cards. Juli Mazi of Napa allegedly sold immunization pellets she said contained the COVID-19 virus and would create lifelong immunity. She also allegedly sent vaccination cards that falsely stated the Moderna vaccin