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Researchers are trying to update the AstraZeneca vaccine, because research shows that this and other coronavirus vaccines may be less effective against the South African variant, the BBC writes.
But even current vaccines should protect against the severe form of COVID-19, experts say.
What is the new South African mutation?
All viruses, including those that cause COVID-19, are constantly mutating. New genetic changes occur when the virus multiplies, that is, it makes new copies of itself that infect new cells.
Most mutations are insignificant and some can even affect the survival of the virus, but some variants can make the virus more contagious and more threatening to its carrier.
Thousands of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are currently circulating. However, experts are very concerned about the South African option, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351.
Is it the most dangerous mutation?
There is no evidence that the South African variant causes a more serious illness for most infected people.
As with the original version of the virus, the greatest risk is for the elderly or people with significant health problems.
However, there are concerns that the South African strain of coronavirus could spread more easily and vaccines against it may not work as well.
Some of the changes are related to the spike protein of the virus, the part of the virus that allows the virus to enter human cells. It is at this peak that vaccines are targeting, which is why experts are concerned about these specific mutations.
The South African variant has a mutation called N501Y, which appears to make the virus more contagious or easier to spread.
Another mutation, called E484K, can help the virus escape the human immune system and affect the way coronavirus vaccines work.
Are vaccines able to fight a South African mutation?
So far, there is still a lack of evidence to say for sure, but the chances of mutations rendering the vaccine completely useless are very slim.
The researchers tested Pfizer’s vaccine against the N501Y and E484K mutations in a laboratory using blood samples from vaccinated people.
The study showed that the vaccine works, only slightly weaker.
Moderna’s early results show that the vaccine is still effective against the South African variant, although the immune response may be less strong or long-lasting.
Two new coronavirus vaccines, which could soon be approved, one developed by Novavax and the other by Janssen, also appear to provide some protection against the mutated virus.
Preliminary studies show that the AstraZeneca vaccine also offers ‘limited’ protection against the mild form of COVID-19 caused by the South African variant, but experts say it should also protect against the more severe form of COVID-19.
The researchers say that even in the worst case, vaccines could be improved to better accommodate new mutations, and that would only take a few weeks or months.
How fast does this mutation spread?
In the eastern and western provinces of South Africa, it is already the dominant variant of the virus.
This strain of the virus has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including Austria, Norway and Japan, in addition to Lithuania, as already written. lrytas.lt, two cases of the South African coronavirus strain are known in Vilnius and Kaunas.
Meanwhile, a further study of coronavirus-affected regions in the UK found 188 cases of this variant.
Prepared by the BBC.
