Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could be effective against the new mutant strain of COVID-19

• According to a Reuters report, a new study shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine could be effective against the new mutant strain of the virus.
• The study which has not been peer-reviewed yet shows that, so far, the vaccine has worked against 16 different mutations.
• Earlier in December 2020, as the reports of the first mutant strain in the UK emerged, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin had said that it is highly likely that their vaccine will be efficient against the emerging mutant coronavirus strain.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could be effective against the mutant strain of COVID-19, found in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the US drugmaker.

Reuters reports that the results of the study indicate that the vaccine has been effective against the N501Y mutation of the COVID-19 virus. The study has been conducted by Pfizer along with scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch. However it is important to note that this study has not been peer-reviewed yet.

So far, the vaccine has worked against 16 different mutations. “So we’ve now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That’s the good news. That doesn’t mean that the 17th won’t,” said Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer’s top viral vaccine scientists.

However, as the study was conducted on blood samples taken from the people who had been given the vaccine, the findings could be limited. Dormitzer has also admitted that there are concerns about the new variant being more transmissible, which could make the virus escape the antibody neutralisation elicited by the vaccine.

Dormitzer, expressed concern over the new variant emerging from South Africa, and added that they will be running additional tests for the efficacy of the vaccine.

Earlier in December, 2020, as the reports of the first mutant strain in UK emerged, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, the man behind the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, had said that it is highly likely that their vaccine will be efficient against the emerging mutant coronavirus strain, and if needed they can adapt it further in six weeks, according to news agency AFP.

Sahin had said that the current vaccine would most likely work for the mutant COVID-19 strain as “as the new form of COVID-19 shares 99% of the proteins with the previous iterations”.