Dr. Fauci says that South Africa’s COVID variant can reinfect people who have recovered

Recovering from the original stress of COVID may not protect a person from reinfection by the South African variant, President Joe BidenChief Medical Advisor of Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

The first report of a person becoming infected with variant B.1.351 of rapid spread after recovering from the original variant appeared in Brazil in early January, and a similar incident was reported in Israel on Sunday.

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

The first two cases of strain B.1.351 in the United States were recorded in South Carolina on January 28.

Dr. Fauci told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Monday night: “It is certainly not the dominant strain [in the U.S.] but if it becomes dominant, the experience of our colleagues in South Africa indicates that even if you were infected with the original virus, there is a very high rate of reinfection to the point that the previous infection does not appear to protect you from reinfection, at least least with the South African variant. “

He said, “This is what we know most when it comes to reinfection.”

Variant B.1.351 has multiple mutations in the spike protein that the virus uses to infect human cells. Mutations can prevent some antibodies from binding to the virus.

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

Results of a study sent to a prepress server by Modern on January 25 suggested a six-fold reduction in the production of antibodies against the South African strain, but the company said its vaccine is still capable of offering some protection.

Modern is developing a booster injection for its vaccine against the South African variant. Pfizer also said it is “laying the groundwork” for a booster injection against B.1.351 if its vaccine proves to be less effective against it.

Novavax reported that his vaccine proved to be 60 percent effective in testing in South Africa, suggesting that variant B.1.351 may be more resistant to it.

The companies’ findings are preliminary and are undergoing a more rigorous examination.

Fauci He said that despite concerns about the South African strain’s apparent resistance to existing vaccines, it is still “critical” that everyone be vaccinated.

“Vaccination is very important. We need to vaccinate as many people as soon as possible and when the vaccine is available to individuals, please get the vaccine,” he told CNN.

“Even though there is diminished protection against variants, there is enough protection to prevent you from contracting serious illnesses, including hospitalization and deaths. So vaccination is critical. When available, get vaccinated.”

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