Technologies
Delta variant: Could COVID vaccine boosters be here sooner than we thought?
With breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people, the debate is over whether booster shots are needed to protect against the highly contagious strain.

During the third week of July, the World Health Organization reported a 131% increase in new COVID cases in the US. With the delta variant of the coronavirus becoming the dominant strain, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said it’s working on a booster shot for its COVID-19 vaccine. To prepare for the possibility, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it’s weighing a third shot for immune-compromised people.
In a July 8 press release, Pfizer said a third shot of its vaccine would enhance the immunity of those who’ve already received the first two vaccine shots. In addition to creating a booster for its existing vaccine, the drugmaker said it would formulate a new version of its COVID-19 vaccine to target the delta variant. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration responded with a joint statement the same day saying that fully vaccinated Americans «do not need a booster shot at this time.»
But that was all before the CDC’s most recent internal document confirmed in late July that vaccinated people can both contract the highly contagious delta variant and easily spread it. Those recent findings were behind the CDC’s shift in its mask guidance, which now recommends indoor mask use for everyone in areas with high transmission rates. The debate over mask use and vaccine boosters underscores how scientists and other health experts continue to grapple with the uncertainties of COVID-19.
Here’s what we know about Pfizer’s plans for a booster, and why the CDC and FDA caution against it, at least for now.
What are Pfizer’s plans for a COVID-19 booster shot?
Along with Moderna, Pfizer’s current two-dose vaccine provides effective protection against all known variants of COVID-19, including the delta variant. Studies have shown the Pfizer vaccine to be over 90% effective against the virus. But Pfizer also said its own research showed a third booster of its current vaccine increased antibody levels five to 10 times higher over its two-dose shots. The company noted its results have not been published or peer-reviewed.
Pfizer said it believes the level of protection the two doses of its vaccine provide can decrease over time, and a third booster dose may be needed «within six to 12 months» after a person is fully vaccinated. To prepare for the booster, Pfizer is testing both the effectiveness of a third dose of its current vaccine and working on an updated version targeting the delta variant. Pfizer said it would begin clinical trials on the booster this month as it seeks approval from government regulators for a third dose.
The company says a third shot given at least six months after the second shot in its original vaccine series would enhance protection against the delta variant, which has been known to infect fully vaccinated people.
What are the CDC and FDA saying in response?
«People who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta,» the CDC and FDA said in a July 8 joint statement, without naming Pfizer. The government agencies emphasized the need for all eligible people to receive full doses of one of the approved vaccines, all of which are free.
The CDC and FDA said the question of a booster requires extensive scientific data and doesn’t depend on the input from pharmaceutical companies alone. «Virtually all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated,» the statement mentioned, adding that the agencies will approve booster doses «if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.»
According to a July 23 article in The New York Times, there is a growing consensus among Biden administration health officials that older individuals and those with compromised immune systems may, in fact, need a third shot. The same article notes that the CDC is exploring options to administer third doses even prior to authorization.
Is Moderna also planning to develop a booster shot?
While scientists and public health officials continue to study if those who are fully vaccinated will need a booster shot, Moderna said — along with Pfizer — it is moving ahead and exploring the need for a third shot.
Would the booster shot be free?
The current one-dose vaccine shot from Johnson & Johnson and two-dose versions from Moderna and Pfizer are free to anyone who wants to get vaccinated. According to the Biden administration, COVID-19 booster shots will also be free, if and when they’re approved.
Is it a good idea to mix and match COVID vaccines?
The CDC doesn’t recommend mixing and matching vaccines from the different makers, saying it hasn’t evaluated the effectiveness of mixing vaccine doses and that the «vaccines are not interchangeable.»
However, other global health agencies and countries are testing administered vaccines from two different manufacturers. In England, for example, a recent study found that those who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a second of Pfizer had a higher immune response than those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
While we wait to see how the situation develops, here’s what we know about the delta variant, more about COVID-19 boosters and if you need to continue to wear a mask.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, April 25
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 25.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is a pretty easy one. 9-Across — the «dog-tor» clue — was a bit of a groaner, but I’ll take an easy answer over a witty, confusing clue any day. 4-Down was a little confusing, but once I filled in the other letters it made sense. (TEXAS and IOWA could’ve fit in 5-Across and 8-Across, with one T replaced in each answer.) Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: «Beware the ___ of March»
Answer: IDES
5A clue: Sends a message
Answer: TEXTS
7A clue: Pond scum
Answer: ALGAE
8A clue: Teeny-tiny bit
Answer: IOTA
9A clue: Doctor who might more aptly be called a «dogtor»
Answer: VET
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: «Don’t call ___ comeback!»
Answer: ITA
2D clue: Supermarket section
Answer: DELI
3D clue: Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chris Christie, e.g., for short
Answer: EXGOV
4D clue: 5-Across or 8-Across, if you change the T’s in this answer
Answer: STATE
6D clue: Musical chairs need
Answer: SEAT
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Technologies
Razer Releases a Vertical Edition Ergonomic Mouse
Two new mice for productivity still look like they were made for gamers, and that’s okay.

Razer has unveiled the Pro Click V2 and the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition — two PC mice with ergonomics in mind, complete with expected Razer Chroma RGB LEDs in tow. The latter mouse, revealed Thursday, is Razer’s first vertical mouse and is priced to go head to head with the likes of Logitech’s vertical mouse offerings like the Lift and MX Vertical.
As with almost any new tech product in 2025, the new Pro Click V2 mice will also ship with artificial intelligence features in the form of Razer’s AI Prompt Master, a productivity feature that will give you easier access to services like Microsoft Copilot.
Both mice are available starting Thursday for $100 for the V2, and $120 for the V2 vertical mouse.
Razer is going for a «do it all» mouse with the Pro Click V2
The Pro Click V2 and Pro Click V2 Vertical editions are shaped to fit your hand’s natural resting positions, making it more comfortable and easier to use for long periods of time. The Pro Click V2 is designed at a 30-degree angle and the Pro Click V2 Vertical is tilted at 71.7 degrees, which Razer says is the natural angle of a handshake.
Of course, these are «productivity meets gaming» mice, so you can also expect a host of Razer features that you’d find on its gaming mice offerings. That said, the updated mice do feel more gaming forward than their predecessors. Both include the Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensors for ultra precision and the mice should be able to track easily on glass. The mechanical buttons are said to be up to 6x more durable than the industry average and should be able to take 60 million clicks in their lifecycles.
Both mice received the RGB treatment, with multi-zone lighting that can be customized further with Razer’s Synapse software. There you can also adjust DPI setting defaults and more.
Lastly, both mice should last a long time on a single charge: the Pro Click V2 offers up 3.5 months of battery life while the Vertical Edition can reach up to six months before needing to be charged again. Both mice can be charged via USB-C, and a 5-minute charge can give you 2 to 3 days of battery power when you’re in a pinch.
For more, don’t miss how tariffs are boosting the secondhand tech product market.
Technologies
Best Meta Quest 3S Deals: Save Big on This Affordable VR Headset, Plus Enjoy a Free Game and Trial Subscription
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies3 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies3 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow