Vaccine questions and new variants

[Coolieloach]

I’m struggling to find this out and wondered if someone more savvy may help me understand.

1. What are the differences between the Astra Zenica & Pfizer vaccine? Is it essentially the same vaccine but different manufacturers?
2. I understand the delay in the second dose to provide some immunity to more people, but even with the second dose, does that provide immunity to the new mutations from South Africa and Brazil?
3. If the answer to 2 is no, I just can’t comprehend how we will ever control the spread of Covid and it’s inevitable mutations. Surely the time it takes for the identification of a new strain and subsequent development and administering of a vaccine for that it will have already spread like wild fire and we’ll be heading towards a new strain?

But there again all viruses do this so maybe I’ve missed something, for example the annual flu jab must consider the inevitable mutations and still provide immunity.

I’m getting all confused and wondered if someone sensible could help explain?

I'll have a go.

1. The Pfizer vaccine is essentially a bit of genetic material that when taken up by some of your cells causes them to display the covid spike protein. Your immune system encounters these cells (from the inside and out) and learns how to produce antibodies capable of disabling covid if it comes across it in your system in the future. Astra Zeneca uses an altered and harmless cold virus to achieve the same end.

1. We don't know yet. There are plenty of reasons to be hopeful that the vaccines will provide some level of immunity to them. Matt Hancock has said that SA variant MAY be less suceptible to the antibodies produced by current vaccines but we just don't know yet.

Thank you salmon!

So which one is better, Pfizer or Astra Zeneca? Just curious - I'm young and healthy so not likely to be offered either for long time!

@BalancingStick

So which one is better, Pfizer or Astra Zeneca? Just curious - I'm young and healthy so not likely to be offered either for long time!

I think that time will tell. We will probably know more by the time you're offered it. Pfizer looks more effective from the trial data though

Apparently there are still more than 200 different vaccines in development, around the world. Some developers are currently refocusing their vaccine candidates to cover the newly emerging strains of the virus, from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. Existing vaccine developers, like Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca, are also looking at re-engineering their vaccines in response to the different variants, and also to be more effective in older people.

Smart, sensible, diligent scientists are working around the clock to find solutions, and improving on their original work. One advantage of being younger is there will be more data from various populations to guide decisions re dosage and effectiveness as time goes on, so it is looking hazy but bright!