Dr Fauci says South Africa COVID variant can re-infect people who have recovered

Restoration of the original strain of COVID may not protect anyone from re-infection by the South African variant, President Joe Biden‘s chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

The first report of a person becoming infected by the rapidly spreading B.1.351 variant after recovering from the original variant appeared in Brazil in early January, and a similar incident was recorded in Israel on Sunday.

The B.1.351 variant was first discovered in December in South Africa where it quickly became the dominant form of the virus in the country.

The U.S.’s first two cases of the B.1.351 strain were recorded on January 28 in South Carolina.

Dr. Fauci told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Monday night: ‘This is definitely not the dominant tribe [in the U.S.] but if it becomes predominant, the experience of our colleagues in South Africa indicates that even if you are infected with the original virus, that there is a very high degree of re-infection to the point that the previous infection does not seem to protect . you against reinfection, at least with the South African variant. ‘

He said: “This is the one we know the most about when it comes to reinfection.”

The B.1.351 variant contains multiple mutations in the vein protein that the virus uses to infect human cells. The mutations can prevent some antibodies from binding to the virus.

Preliminary evidence has indicated that the Moderna and Novavax vaccines may be less effective against this variant.

Results of a study conducted by a preprinted server by Modern proposed on January 25 a six-fold reduction in the production of antibodies against the South African strain, but the company says the vaccine still offers protection.

Modern is developing a shot of the vaccine against the South African variant. Pfizer also said it “lays the groundwork” for a booster shot at B.1.351 if its vaccine appears to be less effective against it.

Novavax reported that the vaccine appears to be 60 percent effective in trials in South Africa, indicating that the B.1.351 variant may be more resistant to it.

The findings of the companies are preliminary and are being examined more closely.

Fauci said that despite concerns about the South African tribe’s apparent resistance to existing vaccines, it was still critical that everyone be vaccinated.

“Vaccination is very important. We need to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible and if the vaccine is available to individuals, you need to take the vaccine,” he told CNN.

“Although there is reduced protection against the variants, there is enough protection to prevent you from contracting serious diseases, including hospitalization and deaths. So vaccination is critical. Have it vaccinated if available.”

Stephen Hoge, the president of Modern, recently warned the virus will continue to mutate as long as it continues to spread from person to person, leading to the emergence of more new variants.