South African Variant

[Jenasaurus]

I do hope that the numbers infected with this strain are few

I was just listening to a virologist on LBC, talking about the South African Variant, he said the part of the virus that has mutated in this strain means it is quite likely the vaccine wont work against it. Matt Hancocks reaction the other week on the briefing when he mentioned it made me think he had some information he wasnt able to share at the time.

I havent heard any mention of the numbers/data relating to this particular variant, do you think it will be discussed on todays 8pm briefing?

Tbh, I just cant think about this.
It worries me shitless.
Regardless, they need to lock down now and roll out the vaccine.
They need to shut the borders.

There is more news on this variant today. It looks pretty worrying suggesting that the mutation reduces antibodies abilty to bind to the virus with implications for the vaccine
www.ft.com/content/c2aa5ea4-66b9-4f64-9e74-7c89c12f9461

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-single-vaccine-dose-leads-to-greater-risk-from-new-coronavirus-variants-south-african-experts-warn-12180837

But others have said they can tweak the vaccine to address it. It would take 6 weeks or so.

They can tweak the vaccine

Who was the virologist said that, OP?

That was irresponsible to say vaccine likely to not work when scientists can finish running real tests within a few weeks to tell if it will still work -- what OP heard was unhelpful speculation and contrary to most qualified opinions out there.

Moreover, these vaccines can be easily redesigned if the new shape spike protein was that problematic.

So why are people returning from SA not be made to isolate, at their cost, in a specific facility - a method used by other countries?

There's been concern about the spike protein for weeks, they just aren't ready to tell us yet. Bad news by degrees, etc.

The vaccine can be re-designed, but it will also need to be re-manufactured, batches re-approved, re-distributed and re-adminstered. It's not insurmountable but it's a painfully time consuming and expensive pain in the arse.

And yet Emirates at least still appear to be offering flights for tomorrow - routing through Dubai admittedly, but originating from Cape Town

@Puzzledandpissedoff

And yet Emirates at least still appear to be offering flights for tomorrow - routing through Dubai admittedly, but originating from Cape Town

Exactly, we're repeating the mistake we made last January to "wait and see". It's infuriating but what can we do.

If they tweak the vaccine so it works for the South African variant, will it still work for the UK variant? Or will everyone need two vaccines, i.e. one for each?

This is my biggest worry about the whole thing, that constant mutations rendering vaccination difficult or impossible. Hopefully it is contained and won't spread to prolifically and the vaccines we have will be enough. My brain won't even let me contemplate what the alternative is.

[quote weepingwillow22]There is more news on this variant today. It looks pretty worrying suggesting that the mutation reduces antibodies abilty to bind to the virus with implications for the vaccine
www.ft.com/content/c2aa5ea4-66b9-4f64-9e74-7c89c12f9461

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-single-vaccine-dose-leads-to-greater-risk-from-new-coronavirus-variants-south-african-experts-warn-12180837[/quote]
There is something I don’t quite understand in this article. It says people are «at greater risk» if they had one dose of the vaccine, but at greater risk then what?
Greater risk than if they had had two doses? That would make sense (but not worth of a headline though, obviously 2 doses are needed for full protection)
Greater risk than if they didn’t have the first dose at all? Seems odd... but is what a lot of people will understand from the headline.

@NoSleepInTheHeat I agree, I thought the sky article was pretty misleading and written as if they wanted to make a point about the UKs vaccine regime even if it didn't directly relate to the virus mutation. The FT article is better (I posted the sky one as well because the FT one is behind a paywall).

I’ve heard people are just taking indirect flights to and from SA still. There’s been no real meaningful border control.

I also heard that unlike the Kent mutation, they cant use the test they have to identify it. That means we have no idea who has it.

I mean the test we currently use to test people to see if they are positive.

I’ve heard people are just taking indirect flights to and from SA still

Yes, I gave an example earlier of Emirates flying tom Cape Town to Heathrow, routing via Dubai; I didn't check Johannesburg or Durban, but I'd be surprised if there's not a way of reaching the UK from there too

[quote weepingwillow22]@NoSleepInTheHeat I agree, I thought the sky article was pretty misleading and written as if they wanted to make a point about the UKs vaccine regime even if it didn't directly relate to the virus mutation. The FT article is better (I posted the sky one as well because the FT one is behind a paywall).[/quote]
I didn’t mean to criticize you for posting the article though

@Fortherosesjoni70

I mean the test we currently use to test people to see if they are positive.

This isn’t true. They can monitor the spread of the SA variant in the same way they monitor the spread of the Kent one. Analysis it the test samples is just as possible.

It was on the Scottish Government questions today. I didn't make it up.
I am relieved if that is the case.

This is so worrying. I can’t believe flights are still merrily coming in and out. No doubt we’ll put a stop to that by the time it’s spreading furiously throughout the UK population. That seems to be the governments usual tactic