China News Service, January 8th. According to the Washington Post, researchers said on January 7 that the new crown vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and German Biotech seems to be effective against those found in the UK and South Africa. The mutant strain in the mutated new coronavirus is effective.
Data map: On January 4, 2021 local time, New York, USA, nurse Sandra Lindsay received the second shot of the new crown virus vaccine at the Long Island Jewish Hospital.
According to reports, the mutant new coronaviruses found in the United Kingdom and South Africa contain a mutation called N501Y in the spike protein. This mutation may be a key factor that makes these two mutant viruses more infectious.
In a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers from Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch collected blood samples from volunteers who had been vaccinated during clinical trials and found that the vaccine was effective And the virus with N501Y mutation.
However, the report said that, as the author of the study pointed out, many other mutations were found in the new variants of the virus, and the vaccine's effect on these mutations has not yet been tested.
The researchers concluded that “continuous monitoring” is necessary because of certain mutations that may appear in the future, or resistance to vaccines.
The CEO of the German Biotech Company stated in December 2020 that if necessary, the company only needs about 6 weeks to recombine the vaccine to protect against new strains.
However, the report pointed out that it is not yet known how long it will take for the adjusted vaccine to be approved and promoted.