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Covid variants: What are they and will vaccines work? | Covid variants: What are they and will vaccines work? |
(6 days later) | |
A variant of concern first identified in Brazil has now been found in the UK. | |
Public health officials are investigating the six cases and are deploying more testing to see if it has spread to more people. | |
Some variants, like this one, appear to be more contagious and there are concerns current vaccines may not work quite so well against them. | |
What are these new variants? | What are these new variants? |
There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating. | There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating. |
Experts' concerns focus on a few: | Experts' concerns focus on a few: |
A UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) now dominant in much of Britain, which has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating yet again | A UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) now dominant in much of Britain, which has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating yet again |
A South Africa variant (B.1.351) found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK | A South Africa variant (B.1.351) found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK |
A variant from Brazil (P1) detected in four travellers to Japan which has now been found in the UK too | |
It's not unexpected that new variants have developed - all viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive. | It's not unexpected that new variants have developed - all viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive. |
Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening. | Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening. |
Coronavirus variants: The science explained | Coronavirus variants: The science explained |
Are the new ones more dangerous? | Are the new ones more dangerous? |
There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected. | There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected. |
As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. | As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. |
For the UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not strong and the data is still uncertain though. | For the UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not strong and the data is still uncertain though. |
Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering will still help prevent infections. Because the new variants appear to spread more easily it is important to be extra vigilant. | Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering will still help prevent infections. Because the new variants appear to spread more easily it is important to be extra vigilant. |
What's happening to the virus? | What's happening to the virus? |
The UK, South Africa and Brazil variants could be much more contagious or easy to catch. | The UK, South Africa and Brazil variants could be much more contagious or easy to catch. |
All three have undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. | All three have undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. |
As a result, they seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading. | As a result, they seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading. |
Experts think the UK or "Kent" strain emerged in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious. The latest research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%. | Experts think the UK or "Kent" strain emerged in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious. The latest research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%. |
The South Africa variant emerged in October, and has more potentially important changes in the spike protein. Experts have recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have one of these more concerning changes too. | The South Africa variant emerged in October, and has more potentially important changes in the spike protein. Experts have recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have one of these more concerning changes too. |
Another new coronavirus variant seen in the UK | Another new coronavirus variant seen in the UK |
It involves a key mutation - called E484K - that may help the virus evade parts of the immune system, called antibodies, that have already been trained to fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or a vaccine. | |
South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk? | South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk? |
UK variant has mutated again, scientists say | UK variant has mutated again, scientists say |
The Brazil variant emerged in July and has this E484K mutation too. | The Brazil variant emerged in July and has this E484K mutation too. |
Will vaccines still work? | Will vaccines still work? |
Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. | Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. |
A recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may be resisting antibodies in people who should have some immunity because they have caught and recovered from an earlier version of coronavirus. | |
Early lab results, however, suggest the Pfizer vaccine can protect against the new variants, although slightly less effectively. | |
Two new coronavirus vaccines that could be approved soon - one from Novavax and another from Janssen - appear to offer some protection too. | Two new coronavirus vaccines that could be approved soon - one from Novavax and another from Janssen - appear to offer some protection too. |
Data from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team suggests it protects just as well against the new UK variant. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - although it should still protect against severe illness. | Data from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team suggests it protects just as well against the new UK variant. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - although it should still protect against severe illness. |
Early results from Moderna suggest its vaccine is effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or long-lasting. | Early results from Moderna suggest its vaccine is effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or long-lasting. |
Variants could emerge in the future that are more different again. | Variants could emerge in the future that are more different again. |
Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked to be a better match - in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary, say experts. | Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked to be a better match - in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary, say experts. |
As with flu, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar could happen for coronavirus. | As with flu, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar could happen for coronavirus. |
What is being done about it? | What is being done about it? |
More variants will emerge. | More variants will emerge. |
Scientists around the world are on the look-out and any important ones will be closely studied and monitored. | Scientists around the world are on the look-out and any important ones will be closely studied and monitored. |
South Africa variant found in Hampshire village | South Africa variant found in Hampshire village |
Experts are already working on updating coronavirus vaccines. The UK Government has announced a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, with a pre-order of 50m doses. | Experts are already working on updating coronavirus vaccines. The UK Government has announced a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, with a pre-order of 50m doses. |
Urgent testing for the South Africa variant and other new versions of coronavirus with the E484K mutation is being done in parts of England. | Urgent testing for the South Africa variant and other new versions of coronavirus with the E484K mutation is being done in parts of England. |