Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 8-11-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for August 11th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>New state level data analyzed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association shows cases among children are rising, with kids accounting for roughly 15% of all newly reported cases across the U.S. for the week ending August 5.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Comedian Chris Rock may call it the McDonalds of vaccines, but a trial involving almost 480,000 health workers in South Africa shows the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine helps prevent severe disease in those infected with the Delta variant. 71% effective against hospitalization and up to 96% effective against death, with a durability of eight months. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The CDC announced late last month it’d move away from using the PCR test it designed to look for the virus that causes COVID-19. No, it’s not because they don’t work. They got approval from the FDA in July 2020 for a new one that detects coronavirus and flu and RSV. Also, hundreds of new tests have become available, many of which are more efficient for labs to process so more daily testing is possible.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When doctors and nurses go on social media with anti-vaccination messages, it’s especially destructive because a new poll finds most Americans have a great deal of trust in doctors, nurses and pharmacists. 70% trust them to do what’s right for them and their families most or all of the time, and that’s true of both Democrats and Republicans, men and women, and white, Black and Hispanic Americans.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The catchphrase has been follow the science. But it could be follow the dogs. Yet another test, this one in France, has shown a golden retriever with just a month of training had a 100% COVID detection rate for nursing home patients who were symptomatic and a 94% success rate even in those who were asymptomatic. Not only that, the dog was able to sniff out the virus 48 hours before it’s detectible by a PCR test. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the