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Original title: Preliminary studies show Pfizer vaccine effective against variant strains found in the UK, EU promotes adult vaccination to 70% this summer
Pfizer said it has tested 16 different mutations in the variant strain, and none of them have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Researchers have shown that the new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech prevents the mutation of the new coronavirus that was first discovered in the UK recently. Major mutations in this mutant strain have increased infectivity by 70%.
European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said on the 20th that he is cooperating with relevant pharmaceutical companies to accelerate vaccine production as much as possible. By March this year, EU member states should vaccinate at least 80% of healthcare workers and people over 80 years old; for this summer, vaccinate 70% of adults.
The effect of Pfizer’s self-certified vaccine is not affected by the mutant strain
Previously, the medical community was concerned that mutations in this mutant strain called B.1.1.7 could reduce the effectiveness of the existing new corona vaccine. A new research report released on January 20 that has not yet been peer-reviewed shows that BioNTech researchers collected blood samples from 16 people who had received Pfizer vaccines in previous clinical trials. The results of the study showed that they were manufactured in the laboratory. The virus with all the mutational characteristics similar to that of the B.1.1.7 strain can be neutralized by the antibodies produced by the vaccine.
According to the report, the study results indicate that “the B.1.1.7 lineage is unlikely to eliminate BNT162b2 protection (Pfizer / BionTech vaccine).”
A similar study by Pfizer earlier this month also showed that its vaccine is effective against a key mutation called N501Y, which is present in mutant strains found in the UK and South Africa. Pfizer said it has tested 16 different mutations in the variant strain, and none of them have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Accelerate vaccination, slow transmission to reduce the possibility of virus mutation
According to data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the new corona epidemic has so far claimed 620,000 lives in Europe. EU member states will hold a video conference on Thursday to discuss the coordination of the response to the pandemic, especially the vaccination plan.
European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said on the 20th that she is cooperating with relevant pharmaceutical companies to accelerate vaccine production. By the end of March this year, pharmaceutical companies are expected to supply member states with a “significant quantity” of vaccines. The government must speed up the vaccination plan to keep up to date. By the end of March, EU member states should vaccinate at least 80% of healthcare workers and people over 80 against the new crown; by this summer, 70% of adults should be vaccinated.
The two vaccines developed and produced by BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna were approved by the European Medicines Agency in late December last year and early January this year, respectively, and delivered to member states under the purchase agreement. joint EU.
The new corona vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is expected to be approved by the European Union before the end of this month. This vaccine has been approved and vaccinated in the UK. The UK’s vaccination work is ahead of the EU, with over 4 million people across the country being vaccinated.
The EU hopes that as the vaccination program develops, member states will be able to issue vaccination certificates to all who receive the vaccine and require that these certificates be mutually recognized throughout the EU.
The governments of member states led by Greece have been calling for the establishment of a pan-European “vaccine passport” so that people who have been vaccinated can travel more freely within the EU. This is a major concern for countries like Greece and Spain, which depend on tourism.
However, France does not support the above proposal. The vaccination rate in France is slower than in other EU countries. Surveys show that 46% of respondents in this country do not plan to get vaccinated.
The European Commission also urged member state governments to persuade the public to do everything possible to curb the spread of the virus, including complying with restraining orders and social distancing policies, especially “not to encourage unnecessary travel. “to reduce the risk of new mutations in the new coronavirus.
(Author: Yan Division Editor: Chenqing Mei)
