To conduct the research, blood samples were taken from 20 people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Reuters reports. Laboratory studies then found that the samples had neutralizing levels of antibodies that appeared to work on engineered versions of the new strains. Experts had assumed that the current vaccines would be effective against the U.K. variant, but the South African strain was more cause for concern. Professor Shabir Madhi, who led trials for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa, told the BBC earlier this week that it’s a “reasonable concern” that the “South African variant might be more resistant” to the vaccine. Madhi added that while it’s “unlikely” that the mutation would render the current vaccines completely useless, it might “weaken the impact.” However, the Pfizer study seems to “calm any concerns about lack of vaccine coverage for the variants,” Daniel Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, told The Guardian. “Neutralization of the variant looks excellent from this study,” he added.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, added: “This is good news, mainly because it is not bad news…We need to test this in clinical experience and the data on this should be available in the U.K. within the next few weeks.” Read on to learn more about the new strains, and for the latest news in the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, find out why Lacking This Vitamin Could Put You at Risk of Severe COVID, New Study Says. Read the original article on Best Life. The strain that originated in the United Kingdom, called B.1.1.7, appears to be roughly 50 percent more transmissible than other variants. The South African variant, known as 501.V2, appears to be similarly contagious and is the dominant virus variant in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of the country. “South African researchers say they also believe that the new variant is more transmissible, since it has quickly crowded out other versions of the virus circulating in the country,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “Still, they say human behavior—with thousands of South Africans crowding into bars, restaurants and beaches—is likely the main reason for the sharp rise in infections in recent weeks.” And for more on how the virus is spreading in the States, check out This Is Who Is Most Likely to Give You COVID, New Study Says. In an update on the new variants posted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, the experts conclude that “there is no evidence” that the U.K. and South African variants cause “more severe illness or increased risk of death.” And for one sign of a serious bout with COVID, check out This Rare Symptom Could Mean You Have a Severe COVID Case. The U.K. strain is currently in eight U.S. states: Colorado, California, New York, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Connecticut. California has the most cases of the new variant with 26 confirmed and 4 presumed, with Florida falling not far behind with 22 cases, according to CDC data as of Jan. 7. And for more on states in trouble, check out Dr. Fauci Just Said This State’s COVID Situation Is “Unimaginable.” While the South African strain had made its way to Ireland, the U.K., Japan, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Zambia, CNBC reports, it hasn’t yet been found in the U.S. However, Anthony Fauci, MD, predicts it’s only a matter of time. “I would be surprised if it were not already in the United States, but you never know until you find it, and then prove it’s here,” Fauci told Newsweek in an interview published on Jan. 5. He said that, if the South African variant is not already in the U.S., “sooner or later it will get here.” And for more from Fauci, check out Dr. Fauci Just Warned About This “Serious” COVID Development.
