Since the emergence of several new variants of COVID-19 around the world, scientists have been racing to understand its impact on vaccines.
Early laboratory experiments showed worrying signs that a variant – one that originated in South Africa – could become a major problem. And now, two major experiments on thousands of people have confirmed that our current approach to vaccines is unlikely to be as effective against this particular variant.
But it’s not all bad news, say the scientists. In comparison to the South African variant, also known as B1.351, an excellent vaccine with more than 90% effectiveness against diseases is still a very good vaccine that can save your life.
The first shock of potentially worrying news came from Moderna and Pfizer – both with COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. Working in a laboratory, these companies found evidence that their vaccines may not work as well against mutations in the South African variant. Still, these laboratory studies were difficult to discern, their full impact was unclear.
But then more concrete data came from studies with people. A large study by the pharmaceutical company Novavax – one of six Operation Warp Speed companies that have not yet obtained FDA authorization – showed that the vaccine was about 90% effective when tested in the UK, but only 50% effective when tested in the United Kingdom. South Africa, where variant B1.351 is dominant.
These results – the first major study in people – weighed heavily on some scientists. Almost all vaccines that have been authorized or are in the final stage of development target the spike protein from the original virus. The South African variant contains mutations in that crucial target.
“I believe the data indicates that other vaccines that use the wild-type spike protein or its sequence will be reduced for effectiveness against the South African variant,” said Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D., an immunologist at Yale University.
“It is fair to assume [Novovax’s results] it would be similar for all vaccines because they all target the peak, but we also shouldn’t freak out, “said Angela Rasmussen, Ph.D., virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security in Washington, DC
The next day, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson – testing its own yet experimental vaccine – found similar results. Their vaccine was 72% effective in the United States, but only 57% in South Africa.
MORE: Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine 85% effective against severe COVID-19 disease
“All vaccines are likely to have substantially lower efficacy against the strain that originated in South Africa,” said Dr. Dan Barouch, Ph.D., director of the Beth Israel Medical Center Center for Virology and Vaccine Research in Boston.
Major vaccine manufacturers have announced plans to develop an updated version of their vaccines – adjusted to address the specific mutations found in the South African variant.
“All vaccine manufacturers are doing what they should: start working by testing redesigned vaccines that should work against variants,” said Rasmussen.
“The best way to combat this variant is to use the variant’s peak proteins as an antigen,” said Akiko.
But experts say that while less effective against the South African variant, current vaccines are likely to save your life if you become infected with it.
In a recent trial, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, for example, was 85% effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization – regardless of the variant.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease physician, said the average American should focus on how effective vaccines are against serious illnesses, despite the tendency to wonder if a vaccine will prevent you from getting sick.
In a call with reporters, he said the most important thing “is to keep people out of the hospital and prevent them from contracting serious illnesses”.
MORE: What we know so far about COVID-19 variants worldwide
Other experts agree that we should focus more on preventing hospitalizations and death, and less on mild infections.
“Obviously it’s not fun to have a mild illness,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA’s advisory committee, director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Infectious Diseases Division of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“But the real question is, how effective was it in keeping people out of the hospital?” Offit said. “From the point of view of making a vaccine for this pandemic, its objective is to keep people out of the hospital and the morgue.”
Stephanie Ebbs of ABC News contributed to this report.
The South African variant of COVID may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness – but the vaccine can still save your life originally appeared on abcnews.go.com