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

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for September 9th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p>The World Health Organization is again calling for a moratorium on booster shots, saying rich countries with large supplies should not offer shots through the end of the year so first doses can go to poorer countries. So far that request has been ignored by countries like the United States. The Director General added, “We do not want to see widespread use of boosters for healthy people who are fully vaccinated."</p><p><br></p><p>Novavax has initiated an early-stage study to test a combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine. The trial will be conducted in Australia. A spokesman said, "Combination of these two vaccines may lead to greater efficiencies and achieve high levels of protection against COVID-19 and influenza with a single regimen.”</p><p><br></p><p>Some good news for young adult COVID survivors. Research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress shows the disease doesn’t appear to have affected lung function. Even patients with asthma showed no statistically significant deterioration. The investigators measured the volume of air in the lungs that can be exhaled after a taking the deepest breath possible and a ratio that’s an indicator of narrowed airways.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>An analysis shows the pace of new vaccinations in rural America increased for the fourth consecutive week last week. Rural counties reported just over 318,000 rural Americans completed their vaccine regimen last week. That’s 9% higher than the number who were newly vaccinated two weeks ago. 39% of the total rural population is completely vaccinated, up 0.7 percentage points from two weeks ago.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Another country has decided it’s going to have to learn to live with COVID and is preparing to do just that. South Korea’s working up a plan on returning life to normal by late October, when 80% of adults are expected to be fully vaccinated. The strategy will be implemented in phases.</p><p><br