Delta variant boosts urgency for vaccinations

The spread of the delta variant, which is believed to be about 50 percent more transmissible than other forms of the coronavirus, has added urgency to the drive to get as many people vaccinated worldwide as possible. Though the current vaccines in the United States seem to protect well against the variant, communities with low vaccination rates are still at risk of spreading and catching the virus.

In Massachusetts, where 61.5 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, experts say immunized people should respect but not fear the delta variant. "This is the time to live. Enjoy yourself," said Dr. Shira I. Doron, hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center. "Right now, we’re in a really good place, here in Massachusetts."