[News] The variant of COVID-19 detected in the United Kingdom is 'more effective' than others already observed

[EvKirito]

                                                                           

 

However, researcher says that new strain will not reduce the effectiveness of vaccines

 

 

The variants of any virus are normal 'and very recurrent', but the main characteristic of the one that has been detected in the United Kingdom is its high 'efficacy' and that it is clearly imposing itself compared to others that have already been observed.

 

This is how the immunologist and virologist Margarita del Val, a researcher at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center - a joint center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Madrid - explained this today, who has shown herself convinced that this variant will not reduce the effectiveness of vaccines that have already been started.

 

Margarita del Val made these considerations during a press conference called by the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE) to present the third annual transparency report on the use of animals for scientific experimentation.

 

During the appearance, the researcher underlined the usefulness of animal models to obtain vaccines against any infection, including that caused by SARS-CoV-2.

 

The scientist, focused on researching the new coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, explained that one of the aspects that has already been investigated in animals that have been infected and vaccinated has been to know if variants of the virus arose and has ensured that the answer was 'no', that no variants of the virus had been detected.

 

"It seems that in the different vaccine prototypes that have already been tested, these variants have not emerged," said Margarita del Val, adding that therefore it is to be expected that the new variant of the virus that has emerged in the United Kingdom it also has no impact on the efficacy of the vaccines that are already being applied in different countries.

 

The researcher explained that the emergence of different variants of the same virus 'is a recurring issue', and has specified that 'what is peculiar' in this case is that it is being imposed on others in a sustained way and at a time when the incidence is very high.

 

'It is competing very effectively with other variants of the virus that are circulating,' said Margarita del Val, and pointed out that this suggests two things: 'either it is a variant that is better transmitted, or it comes from an outbreak or from several outbreaks which have been very numerous. '

 

In her opinion, while these aspects are clarified 'and as a precaution' it is necessary to adopt measures to restrict mobility and contacts in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, and among them she has assessed that PCR tests be intensified in the regions with a greater influx of British citizens or from that country.

 

Del Val has also observed that the experiments that have already been carried out have served to verify that when the animals were vaccinated and later infected "the multiplication of the virus is controlled in a very intense way, but not totally in the nasopharyngeal cavity."

 

Thus, according to the researcher, vaccinated people will be protected from the disease 'mild, severe and death', but 'without knowing it' they could be contagious, so it has influenced that these people should continue to take care of the same security measures when the vaccination campaign begins and they have received the dose.

Del Val has therefore stressed the importance of maintaining the same control measures after the start of the vaccination campaigns: 'ventilation, clean air, masks, distance, hygiene and controlled gaps'.