Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine likely to protect against COVID variant

- Advertisement -

The Coronavirus vaccine developed by US giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech is likely to be effective against a new key mutation that emerged in the UK, according to a study published online on Tuesday.

The study, published on preprint server bioRxiv and not yet peer-reviewed found that antibodies found in the blood of 16 patients who had received the Pfizer/BioNTech jab were able to neutralise a version of the new UK variant, the so-called B.1.187, which has “an unusual large” number of mutations with 10 amino acid changes in the spike protein, and is reported to be more contagious.

“The preserved neutralization of pseudoviruses bearing the B.1.1.7 spike by BNT162b2- immune sera makes it very unlikely that the UK variant viruses will escape BNT162b2- mediated protection,” the study reads.

“It is possible that vaccine efficacy could be preserved, even with substantial losses of neutralization by vaccine- elicited sera,” another part of the paper reads. 

Researchers stressed, however, that “the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates continuous monitoring of the significance of changes for maintained protection by currently authorized vaccines.”

Earlier in January, a similar study published by Pfizer said the vaccine could protect against just one mutation of the virus, the so-called N501Y, which was found in both of the new variants detected in Britain and South Africa.

“BNT162b2-immune sera neutralized SARS-CoV-2 (USA/WA-1/2020 background strain) with an introduced N501Y mutation as efficiently as SARS-CoV-2 without the mutation,” the study read. 

 

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

Latest

Kazakhstan accelerates digital transformation with new visa options

Upgrading its visa regime for skilled foreign workers and...

A Code of Conduct for the HR Outsourcing sector

The quote - often attributed to Deng Xiaoping -...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of...

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Don't miss

Kazakhstan accelerates digital transformation with new visa options

Upgrading its visa regime for skilled foreign workers and...

A Code of Conduct for the HR Outsourcing sector

The quote - often attributed to Deng Xiaoping -...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of...

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of American foreign assistance through USAID was not enough, on February 10 U.S. President Donald Trump...

Tariff Trouble in Trump Town

President Trump has had many a cartoon about him as a child throwing toys and anything to hand out of the playpen. Now, of...

Global reaction to Trump tariffs only reinforces his use of this tired and risky strategy

True to form, U.S. President Donald Trump disrupted global markets with a three-day surge of tariff announcements, border security negotiations and ultimately a 30-day...

Donald Trump is inaugurated amidst promises of security, stability and prosperity

After storming a frigid Washington D.C. during his extended inauguration festivities on January 20, Donald J Trump, America’s 47th and 45th President, launched a...

The heat is on Trump’s fossil fuel push, climate change pushback

2024 has officially been confirmed as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold mentioned in the Paris Agreement, Alberto...

The Biden administration’s parting gift to Russia: Still more sanctions

Clearly working overtime to underscore the Biden administration’s desire to inflict maximum economic pain on Moscow and its coterie of Ukraine invasion supporters outside...

Righteous indignation over Maduro’s inauguration unlikely to change Venezuela’s dark reality

President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela was sworn in on January 10 for his third six-year term. Promising that his third term would be one...

Stringent new energy sector sanctions on Russia announced

On January 10, the U.S. Government released a massive new listing of over 200 entities and individuals involved in Russia’s energy sector for Ukraine-related...