In the midst of the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine, health officials have warned that a new strain of the virus – linked to several large-scale local outbreaks – is spreading throughout Santa Clara County. Many wonder what this means for the vaccine and its effectiveness against the new strain
And will scientists need to make different vaccines? Experts say that maybe. But they are asking residents to continue to be vaccinated with available vaccines, as the “native” or original strain still poses a threat.
A closer look at the new variety
The variant known as L452R has been circulating throughout California counties since November. It is believed to be a quarter of the COVID-19 cases studied by local scientists.
It has also been detected in Humboldt, Lake, Los Angeles, Mono, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco, San Bernardino, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said he thinks of the new strain of COVID as being more “sticky”. He said it is probably more infectious, meaning that a person is more likely to contract from someone with COVID-19.
“We don’t believe it makes you sicker yet, but it means that more people are going to get the disease, or at least become infected with the disease,” he said. It is not yet clear how sick a person will be compared to the original strain.
Dr. Charles Chiu, a virologist and professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, alluded to concerns about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine against the variant in a call last week. “The data is preliminary, but it basically raises concern that there may be some impact on the vaccine,” he said.
Although the virus is changing “a lot”, Benjamin said the changes are still not substantial enough to escape the current vaccine. However, a recent study on a variant from Africa suggests that new strains may be able to bypass the immune response and avoid the vaccine.
Another enemy
Biochemist Mark Schwartz said the new variant in Santa Clara County is not replacing the original COVID-19 virus, but is adding another enemy to the mix. The new strain results from a mutation in the virus’s genetic code – which helps the virus survive and develop.
This is not an unusual phenomenon.
“All viruses are mutated. It is a mechanism for selection and survival. The virus mutated like all things by chance, ”said Schwartz. “Those who survive better than others become the ‘mutant strain’.”
He said a new variant means that a virus has acquired a new property – such as being more lethal, less lethal, more infectious or more airborne.
“These strains spread very quickly – more quickly than the native coronavirus,” said Schwartz. “They may have the potential to mutate into something more deadly. I don’t think it’s a cause for panic, but it’s something we should pay attention to. “
Schwartz said that scientists still have trouble identifying and preventing new strains of flu.
According to data from the Disease Control Center from 2009 to 2020, flu vaccines are about 20% to 60% effective. In 2020, the CDC found that the vaccine was 39% effective.
“The reason why we get a new flu vaccine every year is that the virus changes enough that the vaccine we received last year is not as effective,” said Benjamin. “In a few years, it changes so much that it is not effective.”
Each year, scientists modify flu vaccines to accommodate new strains. They first grow the virus in a hen’s egg. They then extract it, kill it and inject the dead virus into the body to create an immune response. But monitoring new varieties and growing them takes time, according to Schwartz.
Scientists don’t have time to use this method due to the speed with which COVID-19 is spreading, so they have turned to a different technology to combat COVID-19: mRNA vaccines.
While the flu vaccine contains the entire virus, the COVID-19 vaccine contains only genetic material from the virus called mRNA.
Benjamin said that mRNA research has focused mainly on killing cancer cells and vaccinating against cancer.
“The mRNA technology is incredible,” said Benjamin. “It is actually compared to the technology we use to make flu vaccines. I think it will be very effective. ”He said the mRNA method will allow for quick adjustments if scientists need to create another vaccine to fight new strains.
How effective is the current vaccine?
If an individual receives the first round of a COVID-19 vaccine, the injection is about 50% effective for 7 to 10 days, said Benjamin. Individuals need to receive a second injection 7 to 10 days later, which increases the effectiveness to almost 97%. The vaccine will be fully effective in another 7 to 10 days after the second injection.
The CDC says that receiving the injection will not make an individual sick with COVID-19, although there is a risk of allergic reactions caused by an overly sensitive immune response.
Santa Clara County last week suspended the use of a vaccine batch, Moderna Lote 41L20A, for its potential to cause allergic reactions. Three days later, health authorities resumed the distribution of the previously paused batch.
The CDC recommends observation of patients for 15-30 minutes after vaccination.
For more information on how to get vaccinated, read the San José Spotlight COVD-19 vaccine guide.
Contact Carly Wipf at [email protected] or follow @CarlyChristineW on Twitter.