New research suggests that a coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa has lowered the levels of antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and the level of protection is unclear.
For the Pfizer vaccine, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch published the results of a laboratory study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mutations in the B.1.351 strain have been genetically modified in previous strains of the virus to analyze the vaccine’s ability to neutralize the pathogen. The scientists tested the pathogen on blood samples from trial participants who received the vaccine.
“The neutralization of the B.1.351-spike virus was weaker by approximately two-thirds,” wrote the study’s authors in part, adding later, “it is unclear what effect a reduction in neutralization by approximately two-thirds would have on BNT162b2-induced protection. from Covid -19 caused by the B.1.351 strain of SARS-CoV-2. “
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UTMB professor and co-author of the study, Pei-Yong Shi, said it is not clear what level of antibodies is needed for protection, but he hopes that the vaccine will remain effective, Reuters reported. If the variant proves to significantly reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness, the product may still contain hospitalizations and deaths, he said. The vehicle noted that South African scientists will meet with health officials on Thursday to discuss the study. The country recently suspended the launch of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca after preliminary findings showed that the vaccine had little impact in reducing mild to moderate disease due to the variant.
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As the researchers work to understand the findings, Pfizer is making plans to create a variant boost dose, if necessary.
Moderna also released results in the NEJM on Wednesday, reiterating a previously announced six-fold reduction in antibodies induced by the B.1.351 variant vaccine, and said protection against the variant has yet to be determined. The company previously expressed confidence in the vaccine’s ability to protect against South African and UK variants.
“The protection against variant B.1.351 conferred by the mRNA-1273 vaccine remains to be determined,” wrote the authors with the findings of Moderna. “Our findings underscore the importance of continued viral surveillance and evaluation of the vaccine’s effectiveness against new viral variants and may help facilitate the establishment of protective correlates in non-human and human primates.”
“A six-fold reduction in neutralizing bonds has been seen with variant B.1.351 compared to previous variants,” previously announced Moderna. “Despite this reduction, the levels of neutralizing title with B.1.351 remain above the levels expected to be protective.”