In a major development Oxford’s Sir John Bell who was behind the Oxford COVID vaccine development said that African strain of the coronavirus is more concerning than the UK Kent one and it may beat the vaccines approved for use, reports the Daily Mail UK.
What is it?
Vaccines believed to be effective against infectious UK variant VUI-202012/01 . But South African variant has substantial changes in the structure of the protein’.
Coronavirus vaccines could be ineffective against the highly-infectious South African mutation, a scientist who helped develop the Oxford jab has warned.
Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, said the African strain is more concerning than the Kent one.
Substantial Changes in the African Variant
Vaccines are believed to be effective against the highly-infectious UK variant VUI-202012/01 currently causing a massive spike in cases across the country.
But he said the South African variant 501.V2 – detected in two locations in Britain – has ‘really pretty substantial changes in the structure of the protein’ meaning vaccines could fail to work.
This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world.
How can it happen?
The Covid vaccine protects against the disease by teaching the immune system how to fight off the pathogen.
It creates antibodies – disease-fighting proteins made and stored to fight off invaders in the future by latching onto their spike proteins.
But if they are unable to recognise proteins because they have mutated, it means the body may struggle to attack a virus the second time and lead to a second infection.
Sir John Bell (pictured), regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, said the African strain is more concerning than the Kent one
Sir John told Times Radio: ‘The mutations associated with the South African form are really pretty substantial changes in the structure of the protein.
‘My gut feeling is the vaccine will be still effective against the Kent strain”
“I don’t know about the South African strain – there’s a big question mark about that.”
UK Strain Emerged in the US?
Britain first sounded the alarm about the variant VUI-202012/01 in December after an explosion of cases were linked to the strain.
Top virologists in the US since admitted the strain – which was first seen in a patient in September – could have emerged there and went undetected because America’s genomics scheme is ‘sporadic’.
The African Strain Emergence & Spread
Australia, Italy, Iceland, Spain and the Netherlands are among the countries who have since reported cases of the UK variant.
For more information read our article UK, The First Country To Roll Out Oxford COVID Vaccine
Other Covid strains with near-identical genetic make up have also been reported in South Africa – with strain 501.V2 – and Nigeria – who detected strain P681H.
South Africa detected 501.V2, which is feared to be more extreme than the UK’s VUI-202012/01.
On Christmas Eve, another new variant called P681H was detected in Nigeria.
Scientists say it is different to the other two but they do not currently believe the Nigerian strain is more infectious than previous strains.
Travel Ban To Curb the African Strain
Several countries have banned travellers from South Africa to try and contain the spread of the new strain, including the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
But the variant has already been detected in two locations in Britain in contacts of people who had recently visited the African nation.
Pivotal Moment in COVID Battle
Concerns about vaccine ineffectiveness comes ahead of a major rollout of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine on Monday.
In the biggest UK mass vaccination drive ever, half a million doses will be made available for vulnerable people this week with ‘tens of millions’ promised by April.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed ‘a historic day and a day of celebration’ over the jab created by Oxford University and at drug giant AstraZeneca.
He said: “This is a pivotal moment in our fight against this awful virus and I hope it provides renewed hope to everybody that the end of this pandemic is in sight.”
THE UK’S MASS VACCINATION CENTRES
The UK has approved 40 large-scale vaccination centres. Here is a list of those whose locations have been finalised:
- Edinburgh International Conference Centre
- Newcastle, Centre for Life Science Park
- Southern Trust – South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon
- Northern Trust – Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena
- Western Trust – Foyle Arena, Londonderry
- Omagh Leisure Complex, Omagh
- Lakeside Leisure Forum, Enniskillen
- St Helens, Totally Wicked Stadium
- Manchester Tennis & Football Centre
- Derby Arena
- Birmingham – Millennium Point and Black Country Living Museum, Dudley
- Leicester Racecourse
- Stevenage, Robertson House Conference Centre
- London Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel Centre
- Epsom Racecourse, Surrey
- Bristol, Ashton Gate football stadium
- Exeter, Sandy Park rugby stadium
Elderly and infirm people in Oxford, London, Brighton, Morecambe in Lancashire and Nuneaton in Warwickshire are due to be first to receive the jab.
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Source: Daily Mail UK
