As soon as reports of a new Covid-1st strain spread in the UK that seemed more contagious than the previous strain came out, U.S. Scientists are investigating the effectiveness of the latest vaccine against any new strain.
Talking to CNNThe vaccine is widely expected to work against mutations, said Dr. Nelson Michael of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research at the Walter Reed Army Institute Research Center.
“It arises because this change is not a risk, but you never know. We should still be diligent and keep watching,” he said.
Based on reports filed in GISAID, A journal that allows authorities to divide mutations into viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza, has reported multiple spike protein mutations in England, primarily inside the virus’s glycoproteins, which are molecules that are important in binding to the outer coat of cells. To the cells of the human body.
Researchers at Walter Reed are using computer analysis to understand how changing viruses can affect vaccines.
“Computer analysis will give us an idea of how much we should worry about. Other teams around the world are doing the same,” Michael said.
The England leadership responded to reports of a modified COVID-19 strain with a fresh lockdown to stop transmission.
Prime Minister Boris John said that so far, the COVID-19 vaccine should still be effective against the virus.
“There is no evidence to suggest that this vaccine will be less effective against the new vaccine. Our experts will continue their work to work as fast as we can to increase our understanding,” he told a news conference.
U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine, developed by UK Pfizer and Bioentech, shortly before it was given the green light. Most recently, the FDA also approved the Moderna vaccine candidate for emergency use. Mass vaccination rollouts for frontline health care workers and long-term care residents are currently underway.
The new strain sounds like bad news for a newly approved vaccine, but experts say the virus is constantly evolving, and the vaccine does not need to be canceled.
“Even with mutations, the virus remains essentially the same,” said the U.S. Department of Disease Control and Prevention. Said William Scheffner, advisor to the centers. “It’s like a guy. I can turn my brown coat for a gray coat, but I’m still Bill Schaffner. I’ve changed something, but I’m still the same person.”
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