The latest Strongly protective coronavirus vaccines are in abundant supply in the United States. But U.S. researchers continue the intense – sometimes physically exhausting – work of developing new vaccines. At Colorado State University, scientist Izabela Ragan enters a restrictive lab each day to test, in hamsters, an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus. Health reporter Carolyn Y. Johnson explains why Ragan and her colleagues continue this grueling effort. Moderna said Tuesday that its vaccine, like the one made by Pfizer-BioNTech, effectively defends against the delta variant, a more contagious version of the coronavirus first detected in India. Lab tests found only moderate reductions in the ability of vaccine-induced antibodies to neutralize delta – put another way, people who are fully vaccinated with Moderna should feel confident their immune systems can protect them against this variant, the company said in a news release. That news comes as the World Health Organization warns the delta variant has entered at least 96 countries. Public health authorities in Los Angeles County have an urgent request: Mask up when inside public spaces, even if residents are immunized, to curb the spread of the delta variant. The increasing prevalence of the variant locally was the catalyst for these officials to endorse a return to masks. More than 100 people there were infected with this variant in the early weeks of June. The delta variant's threat has placed even more pressure on vaccine campaigns to move swiftly. In D.C., Maryland and Virginia, like elsewhere in the United States, public health officials have struggled to motivate the vaccine holdouts. In the region, the vaccination rate among adults is around 70 percent. Cracking that final 30 percent is tough. What's more, the relatively lower infection rate in the area – while a welcome trend – makes this complex. "We don't want fear to be the motivation for health behaviors but want people to know we are not out of the woods," Danny Avula, Virginia's vaccine coordinator, told The Post. People without health insurance are the least likely to have had a vaccine dose compared with other groups, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll. Although the 100 million unvaccinated Americans come from many demographics and might have a variety of reasons for not getting the shot, less than half – 48 percent – of uninsured people haven't yet been immunized, the poll found. But the lack of health insurance is, itself, not a barrier to vaccination: the Food and Drug Administration-authorized vaccines are available for free in the United States. Other important news More White students than Asian, Black and Hispanic students attended in-person classes during the pandemic. New research indicates that, while many students of color plan to return to schools, others will continue to rely on virtual classes in the upcoming school year. Kim Jong Un, the ruler of North Korea, spoke Wednesday of a "grave incident" and "huge crisis" in the country's effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within its borders. State media did not describe what occurred, and North Korea has not announced any confirmed cases of covid-19. On his national call-in show this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin fielded questions from citizens who asked about vaccination. Given Russia's recent high cases and record number of covid deaths, Putin emphasized the importance of vaccines – even describing his own instance of being vaccinated outside the public eye. | 
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