UK minister says: vaccine might not work against S.African variant

[snoop1130]

UK minister says: vaccine might not work against S.African variant

 

FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" are placed on dry ice in this illustration taken, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) -British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday there were concerns that COVID-19 vaccines might not work properly against the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa.

 

The world's leading COVID-19 vaccine makers are rushing to see if their shots work against new mutations of the novel coronavirus found in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

 

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the U.S. drugmaker.

 

"The South African variant is worrying the experts because it may be that the vaccine doesn't respond in the same way or doesn't work in quite the same way," Shapps told LBC radio. "This South African variant - this is a very big concern for the scientists."

 

The not-yet peer reviewed study by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch indicated the vaccine was effective in neutralizing virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein.

 

The mutation could be responsible for greater transmissibility and there had been concern it could also make the virus escape antibody neutralization elicited by the vaccine, said Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer's top viral vaccine scientists.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-08

 

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[Kadilo]

Sort the Airports out Shapps. 

Leave the vaccine issues to the Health Dept there’s a good Chappy Shappy

Edited January 8, 2021 by Kadilo

[geisha]

26 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Sort the Airports out Shapps. 

Leave the vaccine issues to the Health Dept there’s a good Chappy Shappy

Exactly, another one spouting nonsense.Too many people getting Their word in. Yes, he should sort out the arrivals in Britain making sure every person arriving has a valid PCR.Just because your British doesn’t mean you’re not infected ! And who will obey isolation rules ?? I think the answer should lie in closing all the borders, everywhere, unless important business or grave family situations. 

 

 

[Sundown]

Interesting how in the whole continent of Africa, South Africa is the most infected and the only country where big Pharma's drugs are readily sold at pharmacies just like in Europe USA and Australia...it must be a case. 

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, Sundown said:

Interesting how in the whole continent of Africa, South Africa is the most infected and the only country where big Pharma's drugs are readily sold at pharmacies just like in Europe USA and Australia...it must be a case. 

What?

[faraday]

4 hours ago, Sundown said:

Interesting how in the whole continent of Africa, South Africa is the most infected and the only country where big Pharma's drugs are readily sold at pharmacies just like in Europe USA and Australia...it must be a case. 

 Incorrect....grossly so.

 

 

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, Sundown said:

Interesting how in the whole continent of Africa, South Africa is the most infected and the only country where big Pharma's drugs are readily sold at pharmacies just like in Europe USA and Australia...it must be a case. 

Classic case of 2+2=5. Quite logical really. SA being the most advanced and transparent place on the continent, the most connected (covid is all about hubs and movement of people), and one where testing is at a high level. Many places are in dire straits in Africa, you just won't hear about it because of course they don't matter right. Further, controlled countries can easily cook the books.

[NightSky]

Its been discussed by medical advisors that the vaccines can be altered easily to accommodate a resistant mutation if required. 

 

This is fear mongering news.

[welovesundaysatspace]

23 minutes ago, NightSky said:

Its been discussed by medical advisors that the vaccines can be altered easily to accommodate a resistant mutation if required. 

Any source for the claim that that’s the case for every mutation that could emerge? If I’m not mistaken, Pfizer and Biontech recently tested their vaccine against 16 mutations and it still worked. But they said that’s no guarantee it’ll be the case for the 17th mutation as well. And this South African one was not included in the test.  
 

 

 

[Estrada]

Pfizer already confirmed that their vaccine is just as effective on the British and South African variants of COVID-19. It will probably also be just as effective on the new US mutant strain.

[welovesundaysatspace]

30 minutes ago, Estrada said:

Pfizer already confirmed that their vaccine is just as effective on the British and South African variants of COVID-19.

They specifically said they didn’t test this South African variant (only a different one) and that they cannot guarantee their vaccine will work against that one (or whatever other variant may exist or emerge that wasn’t tested). 
 

See here (highlights by me):
 

“So we’ve now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That’s the good news,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that the 17th won’t.”

The study still does not address a worrisome mutation in the South African variant, called the E484K mutation.

(https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-appears-effective-against-mutation-in-new-coronavirus-variants-study-idUKKBN29D0DX)

Edited January 9, 2021 by welovesundaysatspace

[Bender Rodriguez]

when can we expect this variant to arrive here ?

Edited January 9, 2021 by Bender Rodriguez

[Bender Rodriguez]

2 hours ago, NightSky said:

Its been discussed by medical advisors that the vaccines can be altered easily to accommodate a resistant mutation if required. 

 

This is fear mongering news.

 

so this can be posted without a valid LINK ???? 

[Bender Rodriguez]

 

1 hour ago, Estrada said:

Pfizer already confirmed that their vaccine is just as effective on the British and South African variants of COVID-19. It will probably also be just as effective on the new US mutant strain.

 

and who is doing the PEER REVIEW about these claims ?   right .... NOBODY

 

boeing science ...

[Scott Tracy]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

LONDON (Reuters) -British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday there were concerns that COVID-19 vaccines might not work properly against the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa.

 

You think this guy was permitted to say this without the grown ups giving him the nod? Take one for the team, boy, see how it flies.

 

It's called covering all bases. He didn't say it wouldn't work, he didn't say it would. He was just preparing the ground in case it isn't as effective as is hoped.

[Sundown]

9 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

What?

Don't mind what I said. Keep wearing the mask, be safe and wait for the vaccine!

[Bluespunk]

40 minutes ago, Sundown said:

Don't mind what I said. Keep wearing the mask, be safe and wait for the vaccine!

I'm not sure I understand what your garbled post was attempting to say...hence ''what''

 

As to offering me advice...not required, desired or requested from you.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Bluespunk

[geisha]

He says, she says, nobody really knows , especially those not working in vaccins and epidemiology. We should all be doing our best and shut up.