A new study has shown that the Pfizer Coronavirus vaccine is effective against the new strains of the virus originating in South Africa and United Kingdoms. Live Science. There had been fears that the new strains, which may spread easier then earlier strains, would be resistant to the virus. Both of the mutated strains are more able to infect human cells due to the mutation, which effects protein spikes. The study showed that despite the mutation the vaccine was able to stop the virus. The study was fairly small, using blood from 20 people who received the vaccine, so more studies will be done to confirm the results. Morderna and AstraZeneca will be conducting studies to see if their vaccines are also effective against the new strains.
My Comment:
The hysteria over the new strains of the Coronavirus has been out of control and I thought it would be a good idea to point out this study. Since the new strains are being used to justify massive new draconian lockdown orders, with the UK being the latest example, it's important to look at what the science actually says.
I never thought the idea that these mutations wouldn't be covered by vaccine was a sound one in the first place. The variations aren't that different and these are new vaccines that trigger antibodies fairly effectively due to the m-RNA process which I will admit to not fulling understanding. But it's not like these were flu vaccines which are notorious for not preventing many cases, these vaccines are +90% effective.
I also haven't really heard any evidence that the new UK and South African strains are any more deadly then the base virus. It's claimed that they both spread easier but that doesn't mean that they will kill more of the people they infect. They may infect more people but if most of those people are younger then it won't matter much.
Indeed, I wouldn't be surprised if these new strains are a lot less deadly then the original one. I think we have already seen that as the virus that hit Wuhan and Italy so hard doesn't really compare to what is going on today. Though we obviously can't trust the numbers out of Wuhan we can do so with Italy and it seems clear that the virus is killing a lot less people then it used to.
As for the vaccines themselves it is frustrating how slow the role out has been, at least here in Wisconsin. I have seen people from other states getting it but I don't know a single person who lives in Wisconsin who has received the vaccine. Since I know a lot of people who are either front line critical workers, vulnerable older people and 2nd line critical workers (like myself) you would think I would know someone who has gotten the vaccine but I really don't.
And that's the sad thing. The rollout of the vaccine combined with these new, easier spreading mutations should lead to herd immunity but that won't happen unless the vaccine is rolled out quicker. In some places they are doing just that and they will have the virus under control a lot sooner. But here in Wisconsin it's a mess and it means that it will take longer to return to normalcy here.
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