COVID-19 vaccine less effective against new variant: Virologist
The current vaccines against COVID-19 are likely to provide only a limited degree of protection against the new variants that have emerged in southern Africa.
“We still think to get reasonable preservation,” South African virologist, Shabir Madhi, said of the vaccine’s effectiveness against the variant, for now, known only as B.1.1.529.
Mr Madhi, however, said that the shots were likely to be less effective.
Scientists fear that the variant could be contagious because of an unusually large number of mutations and would break through the vaccine’s protective shield more easily.
His comments came as several governments, including Britain, Israel, Italy, Germany and Austria, restricted air travel to some countries in southern Africa.
Meanwhile, scientists were investigating the extent to which the variant would also affect diagnostics, therapies and vaccination campaigns.
(NAN)
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