Brady Collins
The South African variant of COVID-19 has raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines. While the AstraZeneca vaccine does not completely protect against this variant, Pfizer has stated that its vaccine is effective. Lab tests by Pfizer and Moderna suggest that their vaccines will offer sufficient protection against the UK and South African variants. However, Moderna's tests indicate that the South African variant may reduce the vaccine's effectiveness or shorten the duration of protection. Researchers have found that the South African variant triggers a noticeable reduction in antibody production, but the number of antibodies produced is still sufficient to neutralize the virus. The South African strain has been detected in the US, particularly in Houston, and experts warn of its highly contagious nature, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance as lockdowns ease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine | 57% effective in South Africa |
| Effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine | 50% effective in preventing infection with the South African variant |
| Effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine | Likely to be protective |
| Effectiveness of the Novavax vaccine | 85% effective against the UK variant |
| Prevalence of the South African variant in the US | Not prevalent yet, but confirmed in the greater Houston area |
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What You'll Learn
Pfizer vaccine protects against the South African variant
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been found to protect against the South African variant of Covid-19, according to a lab study by the jab makers. The research strongly suggests that the vaccine will be able to kill off the new strain before it causes serious illness.
Pfizer and BioNTech said that clinical trial data suggested their Covid-19 jab could be effective against the more contagious B.1.351 mutation, which was initially detected in South Africa. The vaccine showed 100% efficacy in South Africa, where B.1351 was prevalent. The study said nine people in South Africa contracted Covid-19, all of whom were in the placebo group. None who had taken the companies' vaccine were infected.
Lab analysis of nine of the infections showed that six of the nine were from the B.1.351 strain. "These data also provide the first clinical results that a vaccine can effectively protect against currently circulating variants, a critical factor to reach herd immunity and end this pandemic for the global population," said Ugur Sahin, chief executive and co-founder of BioNTech.
The Pfizer study found that the vaccine appeared to work against 15 additional possible virus mutations. Pfizer chief scientific officer Dr Philip Dormitzer said: "It was a very reassuring finding that at least this mutation, which was one of the ones people are most concerned about, does not seem to be a problem" for the vaccine. The South African and UK variants share the N501Y mutation, but the South African strain also includes mutations known as E484K and K417N.
Analysis of the trial of 46,306 people also showed strong protection in 12,000 vaccinated participants who had received their second dose at least six months earlier, with an efficacy rate of 91%. Overall trial data showed protection in 91% of cases, slightly lower than the original 95% efficacy rate reported previously.
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Moderna vaccine less effective against the South African variant
The Moderna vaccine is believed to be less effective against the South African COVID-19 variant. While the vaccine does protect against the variant, lab tests suggest that the shot might not work as well or provide protection for as long against the new form.
Moderna's research letter in the NEJM on its COVID-19 vaccine showed a sixfold drop in antibody levels against the South African strain. This is because there was a noticeable reduction in the production of antibodies, which are virus-fighting proteins made in the blood after vaccination or natural infection. However, the levels of antibodies remained above those that are expected to be protective. Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said:
> As we seek to defeat the Covid-19 virus, which has created a worldwide pandemic, we believe it is imperative to be proactive as the virus evolves. We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine should be protective against these newly-detected variants.
Despite the reduction in efficacy, the vaccine is still expected to offer some protection against the variant. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said:
> You could diminish the vaccine-induced antibody efficacy by a few fold and still be well within the protective range.
Moderna has started work on a ""booster" vaccine dose against the South African variant, which could potentially be added to the two-dose series for the existing vaccine.
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AstraZeneca vaccine does not completely protect against the South African variant
The AstraZeneca vaccine does not completely protect against the South African variant of COVID-19. A study from South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand and Oxford University showed that the vaccine had significantly reduced efficacy against the South African variant. The early data from the trial indicated that the vaccine offered only limited protection against mild disease caused by the variant. Out of 750 vaccine recipients, 19 (2.5%) developed mild to moderate COVID-19 more than 14 days after the second dose, compared to 23 out of 717 (3.2%) in the placebo group. The results demonstrated that the AstraZeneca vaccine was only 10.4% effective against the B.1.351 South Africa variant.
However, it is important to note that there were no cases of hospitalization or death observed in the study, and the relatively young median age of participants (30 years) likely influenced the lack of severe COVID-19 cases. While the AstraZeneca vaccine may not provide complete protection against the South African variant, it is still expected to offer some level of protection. The company believes its vaccine could protect against severe disease, given that the neutralizing antibody activity was equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated such protection.
The reduced efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the South African variant has led to concerns and efforts to address this issue. Updates to the AstraZeneca vaccine and other COVID-19 vaccines that target the B.1.351 variant and other variants are currently underway. Moderna has also started work on a "booster" vaccine dose specifically designed to combat the South African variant, which could be added to the existing two-dose series.
In addition, the South African government initially halted the use of Covishield, a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, due to its reduced efficacy against the Beta variant. However, with the emergence of the Delta variant, South Africa has indicated that it may resume the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as it has shown high levels of effectiveness against this dominant strain.
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Booster shots to combat the South African variant
The South African variant, also known as the 501.V2 variant, was first detected in October 2020 and has since spread to at least 30 other countries. It is considered more contagious than other strains of COVID-19, which can lead to more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. As countries race to vaccinate their populations, the emergence of new variants has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current vaccines.
Research suggests that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may be less effective against the South African variant. Early results showed that the vaccine was only 50% effective in preventing infection with the South African variant, compared to 85% effectiveness against the UK variant. Similarly, the Moderna vaccine has been found to trigger a six-fold lower antibody response to the South African variant. However, Moderna has stated that the vaccine is still expected to offer some protection against the variant.
To address this issue, Moderna and Pfizer have both announced their plans to develop booster shots specifically targeting the South African variant. These booster shots will be added to the existing two-dose series for the vaccines. Pfizer's chief scientific officer, Dr Philip Dormitzer, expressed optimism that their vaccine would be effective against the South African variant, stating that it can provide protection against 15 additional possible virus mutations.
While the current vaccines may offer some protection, the development of booster shots is a proactive approach to ensure continued effectiveness against the evolving virus. The South African variant has multiple mutations in the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect human cells. These mutations, including E484K and K417N, differ from those found in other variants and pose a unique challenge to the vaccines' effectiveness.
The emergence of new variants underscores the importance of global vaccination efforts. As Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated, the pandemic is a global event, and controlling it requires a coordinated response. Booster shots to combat the South African variant are a critical component of this ongoing battle against COVID-19 and its evolving nature.
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South African variant is more contagious
The South African COVID-19 variant is believed to be more contagious and possibly more severe than the original strain of coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. Viruses are constantly mutating, and the South African variant has more important changes in the spike protein, making it more dangerous than the UK variant. It involves a key mutation called E484K, which helps the virus evade antibodies and parts of the immune system that can fight coronavirus based on prior infection or a vaccine.
A computational analysis of the spike glycoprotein-ACE2 receptor structure in the UK and South African variants reveals why these variants bind more effectively to human cells. This N501Y mutation provides a much higher binding efficiency, which in turn makes the virus more infectious. The South African variant was found to be the dominant variant in several regions of the country just a few weeks after it surfaced.
While the South African variant is believed to be more contagious, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines have been found to be effective against it. Lab tests suggest that these vaccines will work well enough against the South African variant to be protective. Even though there is a slight reduction in efficacy, the research strongly suggests that the vaccine will still be able to kill off the new strain before it causes serious illness.
However, the South African variant's increased contagiousness could lead to a surge in cases. Currently, the UK has stopped flights from South Africa, citing the new variant as a concern. The South African variant's higher transmissibility and potential resistance to treatment highlight the importance of ongoing research and global collaboration in the fight against COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
Research suggests that the Pfizer vaccine does offer protection against the South African variant. However, the AstraZeneca vaccine does not completely protect against the South African variant. Moderna has also said that its vaccine is less effective against the South African variant.
The South African variant is a strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in October. It has been found in at least 30 other countries, including the US and the UK.
Yes, the South African variant is more contagious than the original strain. This can lead to more cases, hospitalizations, and potentially, more deaths.
No, there are currently no vaccines that are completely effective against the South African variant. However, researchers are working on updating existing vaccines to better match the South African variant.
A vaccine being less effective means that it may not protect as well against the specific variant. In the case of the South African variant, this could mean that it is harder for doctors to treat the illness.
