A new study warns that the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against the South African type.



Despite the increasing global circulation of COVID-19 vaccines, the virus strains emerging in late 2020 could disrupt the world mission to achieve animal immunity, according to a New study Approved for publication in the journal Nature.

Researchers specifically look at the South African COVID-19 mutation, scientifically called B.1.351, to analyze whether the pathogen is more resistant to the immune responses asked by available vaccines.

Biological fluid samples, such as convulsant plasma and vaccine sera, were collected and studied for the amount of COVID-19-neutralization antibodies contained in volunteers recovering from a documented COVID-19 infection. This highlights concerns for potential refraction.

When analyzing volunteer vaccine sera – or fluids from fully vaccinated individuals – the results were just as dire; Neutral activity against B.1.351 was “significantly lower” regardless of what vaccination patients received.

The modern vaccine candidate was found to be 12.4 times less effective against the South African variant, and Pfizer was found to be about 10.3 times less effective.

The silver lining may be that both vaccine candidates hold up well against the UK variant of COVID-19.

“The overall findings are worrying, especially in light of recent reports that both the Novavax and Johnson and Johnson vaccines show significant reductions in effectiveness in South Africa.”

Originating first under the name of South Africa, B..1.351 has spread rapidly around the world. U.S. Department of Disease Control and Prevention Centers (CDC) U.S. Reports 20 confirmed cases in 20 different jurisdictions The first known case In January 2021, U.S. Was found in, in which the CDC’s official statements called for further research on the variable.

Both the UK and the South African version of Covid-19 see changes in the binding sites of spike proteins in particular, creating a barrier to how antibodies produced by the human immune system can fight the virus.

The authors warn, “If the spread of the virus continues and more critical mutations accumulate, we may be condemned to continue to pursue the developed SARS-CO-2, as we have long done for the influenza virus,” the authors warn. Is. “This type of consideration requires that we stop the transmission of the virus as quickly as possible, by increasing our reduction measures and speeding up the vaccine rollout.”

In response to changes and concerns about the effectiveness of approved vaccines, pharmaceutical companies have released studies to see how diversity develops.

In January, Pfizer announced Its vaccine responds well to 16 different mutations. Meanwhile, Moderna announced that they are working on developing a booster vaccine to help eliminate any gaps that missed its first vaccine when fighting the COVID-19 variant.

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