This is the news that many feared: early data show that the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine can offer only ‘minimal protection’ against mild to moderate diseases caused by the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa.
A study released on Sunday by a South African university suggested that two doses of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine ‘significantly reduced’ protection against mild to moderate Covid-19 disease against the new virus variant first introduced identified, known as B.1.351.
South Africa has said it will suspend its explosion of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine following the release of the study.
But that does not mean that governments should dump their AstraZeneca stock. Experts believe that it is possible – and most likely – that the shot is still effective in preventing serious illness and death.
However, the news could be a major roadblock on the world’s path out of the pandemic, which could only end until the virus spreads widely.
This is because the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can be transported and stored cheaper and easier than some of the other vaccines approved so far and as such would play a key role in combating the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries. If the vaccine is not effective enough against the new variant, it could deepen the already large vaccination gap between the world’s richest and poorest countries.
Less effective vaccinations may force countries where the new variant becomes dominant to change their vaccination strategy. Instead of trying to establish herd immunity, the focus may be on preventing as many deaths as possible, even while the virus continues to circulate.
And while the data from South Africa is undoubtedly a setback for vaccination campaigns, scientists are already working on updates to existing vaccines to make it more effective against new variants.
On Saturday, AstraZeneca said it was working with Oxford University to adapt the vaccine against the B.1.351 variant and that it would promote it through clinical development to “prepare it for autumn delivery if needed . ”
Last month, Pfizer said it was “laying the groundwork” to create a vaccine enhancer that can respond to coronavirus variants.
“We see it all the time with the flu vaccine,” said Dr Julian Tang, honorary associate professor and clinical virologist at the University of Leicester. Influenza vaccines are adapted each year to target the virus strains that circulate the most. Sometimes the vaccine chosen does not match the common strain.
“Several vaccine seasons do allow for more flu infections, illnesses and deaths – but to some extent this is inevitable, as the virus will always mutate first – then we will have to adapt our vaccines to suit the new virus,” Tang added. . .
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday that the flu blueprint could work for the coronavirus in the future.
‘The jab is updated every year according to the mutations and variations that have occurred and noticed in the preceding few months, and which are produced during the summer and then transmitted into the arms of those most vulnerable to flu in the fall. , “he said.
As for Covid-19, he explained that we need to think about how we can protect people in the same way.
The good news is that developing a vaccine that will work against the new variants does not mean you have to start all over again, so updates may be available soon.
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