In the US, a Disturbing Vaccination Trend

The number of people who fail to receive the necessary second dose of their Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is increasing. In the US, among those who've received at least one dose, more than 10% are missing the second, CNN reports. That's particularly concerning as the Delta variant continues to spread; research shows two doses of the vaccine are more effective against that variant of the coronavirus. (One study showed 88% protection from two doses of Pfizer, versus 33% for just one.)

As of June 16, about 88% of Moderna and Pfizer recipients who were eligible for their second dose had received both doses. (That means it had been at least 21 days since their first dose for Pfizer, 28 for Moderna.) Almost 11% did not receive their second dose, while another 1.5% also hadn't but were still within the "allowable interval" of 42 days post-first shot. Adults under the age of 30 were the most likely to be missing their second shot, while the under-18 set was the least likely. Those aged 30-39 were also more likely than other age groups to have missed their second dose. (What's behind those missing doses? Experts delved into that question a couple months ago.)