In the United Kingdom, a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic is spreading rapidly and causing high levels of concern among its European neighbors, some of which have cut transport links.
Can new vaccines (Pfizer and BioNtech) protect against this new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/SARS-CoV-2-variant-multiple-spike-protein-mutations-United-Kingdom.pdf
This link is the most recent update on SARS-Co-V2 variant as on 20th Dec, 2020.
Important points mentioned are:
- The UK reports that the deletion 69-70 in the spike protein of the variant causes a negative result from S-gene RT-PCR assays applied in some laboratories in the UK.
- No phenotypic data are available for the new variant and no data are available with respect to the ability of antibodies elicited by vaccines under development to neutralise this variant.
- The new virus variant displays several mutations in the spike protein, including in the receptor binding site. Most of the new candidate vaccines are based upon the spike protein sequence. It is therefore essential to monitor changes in the spike protein among the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains and assess possible antigenic changes.
- The antigenic characterisation of the new variant is ongoing, and results are expected in the coming weeks. It will be important to carry out surveillance of field effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in use, if possible including variant-virus-specific estimates. Surveillance of primary vaccine failures using variant-virus-specific outcomes may also help in understanding if there is an impact on vaccine effectiveness.It should be remembered that T-cell immunity plays a role in protection against and clearance of COVID-19 virus infections. Although T-cell immunity is being assessed both following SARS-CoV-2 infection and following vaccination, it is still unknown what role it could have for correlates of protection.
Buddolla Viswanath
Yes, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against UK variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Article Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 pseudovirus by ...
Thanks!
Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine also provide protection against UK variant (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00628-0/fulltext
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at providing protection against severe disease caused by the UK variant (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00947-8/fulltext
Dear Buddolla Viswanath even ca. 20 months after the onset of the corona pandemic this remains a very important technical question of broad general interest. Sometimes people get confused with the naming of the different variants of the coronavirus. In my country, Germany, it appears that only the Delta variant is currently active which is more infectious than the others. For a good overview about the different coronavirus variants please have a look at the following very helpful link:
What are the Delta, Gamma, Beta and Alpha Covid variants?
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55659820
Please stay safe and healthy!