The new variants found in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil are mutations of COVID-19 that have changed their spike proteins, which allows them to latch onto cells and spread more easily. Currently, there is no evidence that it is more dangerous or deadly to those who become infected with it. The Brazillian variant also has the ability to re-infect those who have already recovered from COVD-19. Early lab results show that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines already being administered can protect against the new variants, although to a lesser extent.
The UK variant came to the U.S. from a passenger traveling from London to Dallas, who tested negative for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test three days prior, but started to experience symptoms one day before the flight without reporting it. The B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK is more contagious, doubling its total number of cases every 10 days, and currently accounts for one-fifth of all new daily cases in the U.S. Since late February, new daily cases in the U.S. have plateaued to around 60-70,000, which is worrisome because over the past year, a plateau in cases has resulted in surges of cases later, according to Dr. Fauci. We probably haven’t seen this surge from the B1.1.7 variant yet due to more widespread vaccination as well as stricter COVID-19 restrictions.
Researchers have become frustrated with the way the U.S. is handling the variants, because as of now, there is no organized system to keep track of where the variants are spreading, and there is no mandate to do so in a timely manner. With more funding, researchers at the Genome Technology Center at N.Y.U. Langone Health, who first sequenced the genome of a European variant, could develop a good system for identifying variants. And as we reach the end of the pandemic, identifying variants before they can spread any further is crucial to prevent hospitals from filling up again.
Pfizer and Moderna say that developing boosters to combat these variants could take six weeks, and in the meantime, maintaining COVID-19 restrictions like masks, social distancing, and avoiding public gatherings will be helpful in preventing the spread any further.
2 comments:
The Texas governor recently lifted the mask mandate in the state, which is really questionable and discomforting, considering the fact that there are now new variants of Covid in the US (starting in Dallas, TX). Additionally, only about 7% of Texans are vaccinated (CNN), compared to the 18% (LA Times) of Californians (note: CA population is ~10 million greater than TX). It may be the smart thing to social distance and wear masks, but in states like Texas which are lifting their mask mandates everywhere (except federal property/public transport), many people will not listen to the pleas of state officials to stay safe, which will probably cause that uptick/surge in cases that Dr. Fauci is warning about. On another note, while the current Pfizer vaccine does seem to work against the Brazil, UK, and South African variants, it is generating a lower immune response in patients, so hopefully the boosters can be developed before the spread of these strains in the US increases drastically.
https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/covid-19-vaccines-distribution/
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/10/us/texas-mask-order-what-we-know/index.html
The UK variant is expected to cause a higher morality rate, which is also concerning. As time goes on, more and more variants will be created as the virus infects more people, so the only solution is to try to vaccinate as many people as possible before the virus mutates to the point where we will need another vaccine entirely. Now it is not only a race of vaccinations vs human patience, but of vaccinations vs mutation. Looking at what Pfizer had said regarding 6 weeks to a strain booster shot, that seems to be really short. Almost all the estimations that have been announced so far about how long the virus would last or how long vaccines would take to make have been wrong, and although I am obviously not a professional like the people working at Pfizer, I have serious doubts about a 6 week timeline.
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