Coronavirus vaccine and Delta variant updates for 9-28-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for September 28th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The U.S. President sought to lead by example as he received his booster shot on camera just one workday after the CDC and FDA recommended a third dose of Pfizer. You’re qualified to get one if you have pre-existing medical conditions, high-risk work environments, or are 65 and older. Let’s just say the President qualified.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pfizer started a large study testing its oral antiviral drug to prevent COVID-19 infection among those who’ve been exposed. They’re in a battle with Merck and Roche to get there first. The drug is designed to block a key enzyme needed for the virus to multiply and will be combined with a low dose of an older medication widely used as part of treatment for HIV.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A Massachusetts police union announced that not a couple, not a few, but dozens of state troopers have quit over a vaccine mandate for state workers. A judge threw out a lawsuit filed by the State Police Association of Massachusetts that sought to at least delay the mandate.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While cases are trending down, for many, the damage has already been done. And we’re not talking about long COVID. A study out of Oxford shows American males experienced the largest loss in life expectancy in 2020, which shaved 2.2 years off their lifespans. Black and Hispanic groups saw the greatest dip in life expectancy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Some scientists are studying a type of antibody derived from llamas as a possible treatment for COVID. Actually any member of the camelid family, like camels, llamas, and alpacas, will do and produce unique antibodies called nanobodies that are robust and bind to specific targets. The llama they’re studying is named Fifi, just so if it works you’ll know who to thank.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the United States cases were down 33%, deaths are up 12%, and hospitalizations are down 16% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since September 13