General
Will the coronavirus vaccines work against the new, fast-spreading UK strain?
At least four drug makers are rushing to confirm the efficacy of their COVID-19 vaccines against the new fast-spreading variant of the virus detected in the UK.
Key points:
- The new strain of the novel coronavirus may up to 70 per cent more infectious
- But 99 per cent of the mutated virus protein remains similar to SARS-CoV-2
- mRNA vaccines stand a higher chance of working as they can be re-engineered at speed
The mutation known as the B.1.1.7 lineage may be up to 70 per cent more infectious and more of a concern for children.
Moderna, Germany’s CureVac, and Britain’s AstraZeneca believe their shots, which target the virus that causes COVID-19 — SARS-CoV-2 — will also work against the new strain that has sown chaos in the UK.
The mutation…
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