The COVID-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech appears to be effective against 16 different mutations of the coronavirus, according to a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed.
As reported by Reuters, the study, carried out by researchers at Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch, suggests that the vaccine will not need to be adjusted to work against a seemingly more contagious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in the UK.
The British variant, known as B117, was recently detected in the United States among people who had not traveled to the United Kingdom, indicating the spread of the community.
Viral mutations are a typical occurrence and there is no indication that any of them made COVID-19 more dangerous than it already is. And while vaccines can be adjusted to deal with new variations, there is still no sign that it is necessary.
“So now we have tested 16 different mutations and none of them have really had a significant impact. That is the good news,” said Phil Dormitzer, a scientist at Pfizer, on Thursday. “It doesn’t mean that the 17th won’t go.”
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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