Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 7-01-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for July 1st, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p>A new Oxford University study shows AstraZeneca and Pfizer’s vaccine remain broadly effective against Delta and Kappa variants. They looked at the ability of antibodies in the blood from vaccinated people to neutralize those variants. The study did show the concentration of neutralizing antibodies was somewhat reduced, which explains some breakthrough infections.</p><p><br></p><p>We’ve said it many times; we report the numbers we get. That doesn’t mean those numbers are right. The Health Ministry in Mexico says COVID-19-related deaths there likely exceed the confirmed toll by a whopping 60%.</p><p><br></p><p>Russia reported 669 coronavirus-related deaths yesterday. And that is the most confirmed in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic. A Delta variant surge is underway there. Russia’s coronavirus taskforce also confirmed 21,042 new cases in a 24-hour period with 5,823 of those in Moscow alone.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>A Gallup poll shows only 8% of Americans now mention COVID-19 as the most important problem in the U.S. In fact, it’s not even in the top two. Even at that number’s peak in April of 2020, it was still the top concern of less than half of Americans at 45%. Race relations is the #2 concern while the government is cited as the nation’s biggest problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>A study out of Ontario says your pet cat is more likely to get COVID-19 than your pet dog. They don’t really know why. It could be something as simple as the fact most dogs have long noses. Regardless, nearly 70% of cats and more than 40% of pet dogs tested positive for antibodies. Most cases were mild and without symptoms.</p><p><br></p><p>In the United States cases were down 10%, deaths are down 23%, and hospitalizations are down 12% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since June 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>There are now 4,897,066 active cases in the United States.&nbsp;</p><