Are rising levels of breakthrough cases a harbinger of COVID boosters?

Recent reports suggest that current COVID vaccines may be less effective against the delta variant than earlier studies predicted. The FDA announced emergency use authorization for boosters for immunocompromised patients. Meanwhile breakthrough infections account for very few hospitalizations and almost no deaths. We’ll ask the experts: are breakthrough cases becoming a problem in spreading the virus, even if the cases are mild? Is immunity among the vaccinated, and recovered COVID patients waning over time? Should we get used to the idea of COVID boosters?

Panelists:

Dr. Julie Swann, MS, PhD, Department Head and A. Doug Allison Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University and affiliate faculty in the joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at both North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Juan Wisnivesky, DrPH, MD, Chief Division of General Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System.