Coronavirus vaccines being rolled out in Britain work better against the Brazilian variant (pictured) than previously feared
Research suggests that coronavirus vaccines that are being rolled out in Britain work best against the Brazilian variant of what was first feared.
A study from Oxford University found that his vaccine and the blow made by Pfizer worked just as well against the P.1 strain that first emerged in Manaus as it does against the Kent variant.
Vaccines, which are already in the arms of 25 million Britons, have proven to be highly effective against the dominant Kent strain in the UK, reducing mortality and hospital rates by more than 85%.
Scientists initially feared that the P.1 variant would be resistant to vaccines because it has several worrying mutations on top of those it shares with the Kent strain.
So far there have been 12 cases of the Brazilian variant in the UK: nine in England and three in Scotland. All patients had direct or indirect travel links to Brazil.
The study exposed blood samples from vaccinated people to various variants of Covid and monitored their antibody responses.
Vaccines were found to produce almost three times less antibodies against the Kent and Brazil variants compared to the original strain. The researchers said this was still more than enough to neutralize the viruses.
However, the blows stimulated up to nine times fewer antibodies when exposed to the South African variant, which has been detected in hundreds of people in the UK.
But antibodies are not the only part of the immune response to Covid: white blood cells also play an important role, meaning that even if vaccines do not produce a strong antibody response, they should prevent serious disease.
More than 25 million Britons have had at least one dose of the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine
Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than when the first wave began to slow, according to official data offering even more evidence that vaccines are saving live
Vaccine manufacturers have said earlier that the blows will still prevent the vast majority of people from getting sick with this strain.
They claim that in the few vaccinated people who still continue to catch it, their symptoms will be reduced to “sniffers”.
Professor Gavin Screaton, a medical expert who led the research, said: “This study broadens our understanding of the role of changes in spike protein in escaping the human immune response, measured as neutralizing antibody levels.”
“The results suggest that P1 may be less resistant to vaccine and convalescent immune responses (Covid infection) than B1351 (South Africa) and similar to B117 (Kent).”
The study used blood samples from people who have natural antibodies generated from a Covid-19 infection and from those whose antibodies were induced by Oxford or Pfizer vaccines.
An almost triple reduction in the level of virus neutralization by antibodies generated by the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines was found for the Kent and Brazil variants compared to an original strain.
“These data suggest that natural, vaccine-induced antibodies may neutralize these variants, but at lower levels,” the university said.
“It is important to note that the ‘Brazilian’ strain P1 may be less resistant to these antibodies than was first feared.”
Vaccines fought harder with the South African variant, with a seven-fold reduction in the level of neutralization of the Oxford vaccine virus and a nine-fold reduction for Pfizer.
Professor Andrew Pollard, chief researcher of the Oxford University vaccine trial, said: “These new efforts to investigate the relationship between changes in the virus and human immunity provide new insights that help us be prepared. to respond to new pandemic challenges for our health. virus, if we need it. “
Cases of Brazilian and South African variants have been found in the UK, with Covid overload tests used to help prevent their spread.
Public Health England data show that there were 344 cases of the South African strain and 12 cases of the Brazilian version.
The agency has six “under investigation” variants, including strains from the Philippines and Antigua and several that appeared in the UK.
He has four more that he describes as “variants of concern.” They are: the current dominant Kent strain (B.1.1.7); one imported from Brazil (P.1), the South African variant (B.1.351) and an even more evolved version of the Kent strain that emerged in Bristol.
Although new variants appear more frequently in the UK and around the world, the best scientists have warned not to become obsessed with mutant viruses.
All the big vaccine manufacturers say they are confident that their shots will be very effective against all emerging strains.
Researchers at Oxford University have said a single strain is unlikely to make vaccines significantly weaker next year.
Instead, they say there are more chances that a series of developments over many months or even years could end up making the current crop of punctures less powerful.
But vaccines can change in a matter of weeks and regulators in the UK, US and EU have passed laws, meaning new booster vaccines can be quickly accessed for approval.