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The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against the South African variant of COVID-19, the researchers found.
The researchers who developed the jab say that it offers only limited protection against mild disease caused by the new E484K variant.
However, early data also show that jab may prospectively protect against more serious disease caused by the mutation.
Latest COVID updates live from the UK
The jab is now being developed to fight against different variants.
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca said: “Early data have shown limited efficacy against mild disease mainly due to the South African variant B.1.351.
“We believe that our vaccine could protect against serious diseases, since the activity of the neutralizing antibodies is equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have shown activity against more serious diseases, especially when the dosage interval is optimized to 8-12 weeks. “
But since the average age of the study participants is just 31, the researchers have not been able to fully determine its effect against severe illness and hospitalization given that the 2,000 subjects were predominantly healthy young adults.
Researchers are also investigating other immune responses to the vaccine, including T-cell responses, which may play a role in protecting against disease.
The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca say they have started tailoring the South African variant vaccine and that it will be ready for fall delivery if needed.
The findings, which were first reported by the Financial Times, will be published on Monday.
Door-to-door tests are underway to track the South African variant in England
Speaking about Sky News’s Sophie Ridge study on Sunday, Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Of course the virus will mutate. The more we vaccinate, the more it will try to mutate and adapt to survive.
“We have the world’s best genome sequencing ecosystem industry here in the UK, so we can sequence the genomes of mutations quickly and then talk to manufacturers.”
Dr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy on COVID-19 of the World Health Organization
He said this “prepares our country for the future” in vaccine development and is “all part of the government’s strategy to protect our nation.”
He also said the government hopes to meet its vaccination targets. Up to this point, more than 11 million people have been inoculated with a first dose.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) special envoy Dr. David Nabarro told Sky News’s Sophie Ridge: “This virus, like any other virus, will vary. We will see variations that are particularly dangerous emerging from from time to time, we know how to deal with this problem.
“The first thing is that we use the precautions that we generally use with respect to distancing and facial masking. Second, we can tailor vaccines, scientists are good at that and we will.
“As we do with the flu, we will do with the coronavirus. The variations are worrisome and we have to be very aware of them, but we know that they will come and go and we know that the vaccines will have to continue. Be modified.
“What’s really important is that leaders around the world support teams like WHO, which is the only kind of organization that can keep track of different variants as they arise and give advice on things like travel.”
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Targeted door-to-door testing is currently underway to track down the South African variant in England, after cases of the variant were identified in people who had no ties to travel, suggesting it may be spreading in communities.
It comes after research published Friday indicated that the Oxford / AstraZeneca jab is effective in fighting the UK variant of coronavirus.
That variant, labeled B117 and discovered in early December, was partially blamed for coronavirus cases soaring to record levels and then continuing to rise until early 2021, before the nationwide lockdown was imposed.
