Could it be that the Indian variant, like the Brazilian and SA variant is nothing to seriously worried about?

[user19097527484949]

There was a lot of talk a few months ago of the Brazilian and South African variant.. but neither have completely messed things up for us yet. Could it be the same with the Indian one ? Fingers crossed !

@TruelyWonder

Why variants are unlikely to fully evade vaccine-induced immunity: •Vaccines are polyclonal (Abs) •CD8+ T-cells covering 52 epitopes across the spike protein •CD4+ T-cells covering 23 epitopes across the spike protein •T-cells also target epitopes across N and M proteins

You have to wonder why any virologists or epidemiologists are concerned about vaccine escape at all really, don't you?

There's a Twitter account that says it's "unlikely".

So that's all right then.

There are no 100% when it comes to vaccines. What is being said is that it all is looking very good. The Twitter account is not the person saying this. It is Pfizer that has made the calculation and done the science. That scientific working out can then be used across all the vaccines. It you disagree with them I suggest you email them or something 🤷‍♀️

BioNTech has said its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with Pfizer, does NOT require modifications to protect against key variants of the virus currently in circulation.

Truely, are you aware of the term "pigeon chess"?

Just a minute I will have to Google that one

@Bordois

Truely, are you aware of the term "pigeon chess"?

Naughty 😂

@TruelyWonder

There are no 100% when it comes to vaccines. What is being said is that it all is looking very good. The Twitter account is not the person saying this. It is Pfizer that has made the calculation and done the science. That scientific working out can then be used across all the vaccines. It you disagree with them I suggest you email them or something 🤷‍♀️

No?

That is an explanation of what Pfizer are saying! You know a break down of the facts etc. Why Pfizer are saying they won't need to tweak the vaccine.

@TruelyWonder

BioNTech has said its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with Pfizer, does NOT require modifications to protect against key variants of the virus currently in circulation.

Again

Here you go it made it into the newspapers and everything. No evidence of needing an update to tackle new variants. Research is still ongoing but like I have said all is looking very good. We just need jabs in arms now

inews.co.uk/news/health/no-evidence-pfizer-jab-needs-updating-tackle-existing-variants-biontech-993919

From what I can gather the 2 version of the Indian variant could cause concern in that it has some potential to disrupt or slow the relaxations of restrictions.

There is some evidence that it spreads more easily than the Kent variant or any of the others but it could be that lots of the cases are school outbreaks who have not been vaccinated and where masks and bubble guidance will be relaxed on Monday. These are unlikely to cause many hospitalisations so may not be an issue

What we don't know is how easily or if it can infect people with only 1 jab. We know that 1 jab offers only partial protection against infection but possibly 80 percent against hospitalisation.

We will have to see what the trends are and how it spreads after the 17th. It is far from clear that it wil cause a problem given the vaccine stats but no evidence does not equal no risk either.

[quote TruelyWonder]Here you go it made it into the newspapers and everything. No evidence of needing an update to tackle new variants. Research is still ongoing but like I have said all is looking very good. We just need jabs in arms now

inews.co.uk/news/health/no-evidence-pfizer-jab-needs-updating-tackle-existing-variants-biontech-993919[/quote]
No evidence means we don't know. (Either way.)

But the WHO have made B1617 a Variant of Concern purely on its increased transmissibility.

So whilst vaccine escape would obviously make things worse, increased transmissibility is plenty of problem to be going on with.

So therefore we already know B1617 IS something to worry about.

I haven't said it isn't something to worry about. I actually said we are on a knife edge. I only posted in the first place because people were worried the vaccines won't work. Just to say AZ has evidence it works so Pfizer should be fine too. That in fact Pfizer is saying it will without tweaking.

I agree variant is so fast to spread it needs watching. Luckily we will have are most vulnerable people fully vaccinated before it could get at them. Obviously the possibility of it running through younger people is an issue. Not all vulnerable can be vaccinated for a start. Plus some health people could die. That is why I also said we need to get jabs in arms.

No idea why me saying the vaccines work well but you need to actually have them is such an issue. I would go one all the threads with poster telling people to miss their second AZ jab or telling people to wait a few months until there is more evidence about all the vaccines. Those are the people to criticise.

In the mean time if people are worried any variant. Get whatever both jabs when you can because they all should work well for all know variants. You do need both though because despite what any social media or mumsnet expert tell you this is how they are designed to be used. Don't leave yourself vulnerable.

Goodness I should have proof read that
Sorry 😂

Oxford are already making a ‘tweaked’ version of their vaccine with the SA spike to use as a booster for autumn. There’d be no point in doing that if they were convinced their vaccine worked against the SA variant.

Nothing to worry about.

The vaccines are very effective and no evidence of vaccine resistant strains.

Am I still missing something?

The reports on effectiveness against the Indian variant all seem to be about Pfizer.

So perhaps nothing to worry about for those who've had Pfizer - but what about AZ?

There’s no evidence that the AZ vaccine is not effective against variants.

@WouldBeGood

There’s no evidence that the AZ vaccine is not effective against variants.

Is there evidence that it is effective against variants?

Yes, that it at the very least reduces severe cases and deaths.

No need to worry

Andy Burnham is very worried about a spike in cases that they think is the Indian variant - he was appealing for JCVI to urgently roll out extra vaccines to Bolton for all over 16s earlier today.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57073675

Well, the actual experts aren’t worried

@WouldBeGood

Yes, that it at the very least reduces severe cases and deaths.

No need to worry

No need to to worry... unless you want to avoid long Covid.

I'm assuming it's Pfizer that is needed to protect against that? Reports I've seen suggest Pfizer prevents all infections. Is that correct?

Andy B is jumping on bandwagon

Bolton rates are 1/10 of Feb

[quote FusionChefGeoff]Andy Burnham is very worried about a spike in cases that they think is the Indian variant - he was appealing for JCVI to urgently roll out extra vaccines to Bolton for all over 16s earlier today.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57073675[/quote]
Well there's even more of it in London and their still doing 30s and 40s there so.... Get back in the queue, Andy.