Is there any way to use this information to better protect one's self?
Everybody should get vaccinated and then get it now. The current Delta is close enough to the OG version that your body can crush it and then get a stronger immunity towards the future lineage of the virus.
If you stay in a bubble, by this winter there will be a variant that almost completely evades the vaccines and then you're back to square one.
Basically we should be continuously getting immunity against the newest.
“I think the problem we have is people — whether it’s the CDC or the people that are doing the briefings — their big concern is, they just want to get vaccinations up. And they don’t want to punch any holes in the story about vaccines. But we can handle the truth. And that’s what we should be getting.”
Coming from Topol I find this particularly rich. He should include himself in that group. The breakthrough problem has been obvious for well over a month now. He has been one of those who have downplayed it. Besides Israel and other obvious international indications there have been notable incidence amongst medical professionals in the US. His podcast with Sam Harris, which I honestly could listen to is just one example of his participation in the groupthink. The downplaying of the vaccines’ lack of protection will have killed people, maybe not a significant number but the trolley lever was certainly pulled in that direction albeit for good (pro-vax) reasons.
If the jab mitigates the symptoms but the (unaware) carrier can still transmit the virus to others, then doesn't that help the virus? It doesn't stop it, it gives it cover, a disguise.