# Is it too late to get a vaccination against Delta? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 22, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018 "2021-07-22T01:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/21 "2021-07-23T00:08:06Z")
There’s quite a few people who apparently don’t think it’s too late. [Vaccinations rise in some states with soaring infections (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/vaccinations-rise-in-some-states-with-soaring-infections/ar-AAMrAj8?li) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/22 "2021-07-23T00:10:50Z")
Delta is ready when you are. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/23 "2021-07-23T03:06:28Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > **That 95% number was pre-delta; it’s much less effective after dose one now, with some estimates suggesting it might only be 30-40% effective at preventing infection.** You definitely need the robust antibody production of the second dose to get the real protection the vaccine affords. Yeah, OK - but the MOST IMPORTANT thing the vaccine does it keep you from dying or getting so sick you wind up on a respirator or in similar dire straits. If you don’t get infected at all, that’s wonderful, the ideal thing, but if you do get covid after being vaccinated you are far, far less likely to become seriously ill. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/24 "2021-07-23T03:12:15Z")
Maybe I should have bolded the last part of that passage. I absolutely believe in vaccines; I just wanted to make it clear that one dose of an mRNA vaccine is not really sufficient - you need two doses to get to the 75-90% protective efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/26 "2021-07-23T03:18:52Z")
I really, _really_ wish I could get the vaccine, but my mom is anti-vax, so not much I can do right now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/27 "2021-07-23T03:33:45Z")
How old are you and where are you located? They’re being quite liberal about allowiing older teens to circumvent parental preferences, especially when the parents are chowderheads. ---
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/28 "2021-07-23T03:34:40Z")
A 16-year-old in Wisconsin. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/29 "2021-07-23T03:34:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yeah, OK - but the MOST IMPORTANT thing the vaccine does it keep you from dying or getting so sick you wind up on a respirator or in similar dire straits. If you don’t get infected at all, that’s wonderful, the ideal thing, but if you do get covid after being vaccinated you are far, far less likely to become seriously ill. True, that. New Hampshire released some stats today. Of the 600 people in New Hampshire that have died since January when the vaccine first became available, 595 of them were unvaccinated, and 5 were vaccinated. And with a bit under 59% of people 12 and over vaccinated fully vaccinated, we have a total of 22 people in the hospital and a total of 270 active cases. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/30 "2021-07-23T03:44:54Z")
It looks like there aren’t laws specifically allowing you to get vaccinated. [Consent Laws by State: Wisconsin — VaxTeen](https://www.vaxteen.org/wisconsin) This site has some general resources for trying to change parents’ minds. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/31 "2021-07-23T04:08:30Z")
@CorpusNeptune - What about all the other vaxes? Have you had the polio vax, the tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vax, the measles vax, and whatever other vaxes everyone should have? Tetanus is still around, and getting it is about as gruesome as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/32 "2021-07-23T06:20:37Z")
Nope - nothin’ (except the mandated ones). ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/33 "2021-07-23T13:39:29Z")
Try to convince your mom any way you can. Do you have any underlying conditions such as diabetes or pulmonary problems? Regardless, there are some things you can do to defend yourself, like wearing a mask and social distancing. Try to avoid large indoor gatherings as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/34 "2021-07-23T13:42:06Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Try to convince your mom any way you can Or your dad. I bet you only need permission from one parent. (Unless your mom has medical custody, i suppose.) ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/35 "2021-07-23T16:09:24Z")
Poking around the medical-consent-laws-by-state site, I’m surprised at how few states I’m seeing with consent laws for teenagers. And many of the states that have such a law limits it to STI vaccinations and/or treatment. I’m happy my state has general medical consent for age 15 and up. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/36 "2021-07-23T22:26:14Z")
I generally support the idea that parents be made aware of anything involving the health of their child, including vaccinations. What I oppose is parents having the right to deny healthcare to their children. I think parents of children who refuse to allow their child access to a vaccine that will protect them against a known potentially fatal pathogen should be charged with criminal child endangerment or neglect. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/37 "2021-07-23T23:09:37Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > I’m happy my state has general medical consent for age 15 and up. In Ontario, there is no age limit, rather the patient has to have the capacity to understand the risk vs. benefit of the treatment. Effectively they are asking the child if they consent to the Covid vaccine, even if the parent brings them in. Pissed off the anti-vaxers, but no one really cares what they think. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2021, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/38 "2021-07-25T05:33:31Z")
Unless there is some reason why you are not qualified to get the vaccine, just do it. BTW, I’m hearing now about a “Lambda Variant.” Don’t know much more about it than that. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/39 "2021-07-26T14:25:58Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > And many of the states that have such a law limits it to STI vaccinations and/or treatment. “So, Doc, I heard you could get COVID from kissing…Nod nod, wink wink…” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/40 "2021-07-26T16:04:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Delta is ready when you are. Just wanted to acknowledge this wonderful bit of sorely needed levity (within an important, serious thread with plenty of informative, serious posts). ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018/41 "2021-07-26T16:08:45Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I generally support the idea that parents be made aware of anything involving the health of their child, including vaccinations. What I oppose is parents having the right to deny healthcare to their children. I think parents of children who refuse to allow their child access to a vaccine that will protect them against a known potentially fatal pathogen should be charged with criminal child endangerment or neglect. Would that include “optional” vaccines like Gardasil? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-vaccination-against-delta/947018.md?page=3)