New COVID-19 Variants: 7 Key Questions Answered By Experts
Will the existing vaccines work against the new variants?
Based on evidence so far, the vaccines appear to provide protection against the new variants. According to lab research, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been confirmed to work against the strain dominant in the UK while Moderna’s vaccine provided immunity against both the U.K. and South African variants, though not as efficient against South Africa’s strain.
Researchers fear that the high transmission rate of the coronavirus could make it difficult for other variants, which evade the vaccine, to be detected. The solution, according to experts, is to vaccinate as many people as possible before the more contagious mutated version spread too widely.
Dr. Fauci pointed out that it is important and useful to get the COVID-19 vaccine even if it doesn’t provide full immunity to the new strains, adding that the vaccine can be upgraded to work against virus mutations, if required. Also, check out these 7 COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Dr. Fauci Wants You to Understand.
