Coronavirus vaccine: Will COVID-19 vaccines prove effective against the new COVID strain?

The new coronavirus variant has not only wreaked havoc in parts of England, but has created a sense of fear and panic all around the world. While the United Kingdom has imposed many restrictions in the country, other nations have secured their borders to contain the spread of the virus. However, with the roll out of the vaccines in the market, the question still remains as to whether the two COVID-19 vaccines will be effective against the new COVID strain or not?

According to the scientists in the United Kingdom, the new variant or the mutant virus, which has been named “VUI 202012/01”, comprises a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein that could be the cause of immediate and easy spread of the virus amongst people. Up until now, the differences between the old and new virus include 23 mutations in the virus’s genetic code that have altered four viral proteins. About eight of these 23 mutations seem to have affected the spike protein that gives the coronavirus family their name. While nothing further has been confirmed, scientists have suggested that this new strain could be the reason behind the faster spread of the virus.

A recent study conducted at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine stated that the new strain of the novel coronavirus can cause more deaths in the UK. Experts also fear that the new COVID strain can lead to more hospitalisations and deaths in the year 2021 as compared to the year 2020.

Besides that, while the original strain of virus posed little or no dangers to children, the mutant virus has the potential to take a toll on children too.

According to Wendy Barclay, a professor at New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and a specialist in virology at Imperial College of London, the mutations have made it easier for the virus to enter the human cells more easily and therefore, children are more prone to getting infected and are equally susceptible to this virus as adults.

Coming to the question of whether the COVID-19 vaccines will work against the new variant is still under review. With the roll out of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in different parts of the world, scientists and medical researchers are continuously observing its effect on individuals. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were originally developed to recognize a specific version of the viral spike protein, which is the original strain of coronavirus. Therefore, considering the vaccine was developed to target a particular spike protein, the new variant which can change the shape of the pre-existing spike protein, may be unharmed by the new vaccine. But much depends on the scientific studies that are yet to confirm the effectiveness of these vaccines on the new COVID strain.