New research indicates that the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa has reduced Pfizer and Moderna’s antibody bodies, and that the level of protection is unclear.
For the Pfizer vaccine, researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch published findings from a laboratory study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mutations on the B.1.351 strain have been genetically engineered into previous strains of the virus to analyze the ability of the vaccine to neutralize the pathogen. Scientists tested the pathogen against blood samples from participants in the trial who received the vaccine.
“The neutralization of the B.1.351 ear virus was about two-thirds weaker,” the authors of the study wrote in part, adding later. -19 caused by the B.1.351 lineage of SARS-CoV-2. “
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UTMB professor and co-author of the study, Pei-Yong Shi, said it was unclear what level of antibodies were needed for protection, but he hoped the vaccine would remain effective, Reuters reported. If the variant particularly suppresses the effectiveness of the vaccine, the product could still undermine hospitalizations and deaths, he said. The statement noted that scientists in South Africa would meet with health officials on Thursday to discuss the study. The country recently suspended the deployment of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca after preliminary findings showed that the sting had little effect on mild to moderate diseases due to the variant.
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While researchers work to understand the findings, Pfizer plans to create a varying booster shot, if necessary.
Moderna also announced findings in NEJM on Wednesday, reiterating an earlier-announced six-fold reduction in vaccine against the B.1.351 variant, and protection against the variant has yet to be determined. The company previously provided the ability to protect the vaccine against the South African and British variants.
“The protection against the B.1.351 variant conferred by the mRNA-1273 vaccine has yet to be determined,” write authors with the findings of Moderna. “Our findings highlight the importance of ongoing viral surveillance and evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines against new viral variants and may help facilitate the establishment of correlates of protection in non-human primates and humans.”
“A six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with the B.1.351 variant compared to previous variants,” Moderna announced earlier. “Despite this reduction, the neutralization of titer levels remains at B.1.351 above the levels that are expected to be protective.”