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This new variant (B.1.1.529) isn't widespread enough to definitively say what effect vaccines have on it, and the Nature article doesn't go into any detail abou
by drusepth 5y ago
This new variant (B.1.1.529) isn't widespread enough to definitively say what effect vaccines have on it, and the Nature article doesn't go into any detail about it (other than saying it's a "question" and the threat it poses is "far from clear") with the bonus quote "at this stage it’s too early to tell anything". Some of the mutations are concerning (particularly wrt transmission and antibody resistance), but it's not the first variant of concern with those properties.
B.1.351 (Beta) and P.1 (Gamma) and several other variants also reduced vaccine effectiveness, but vaccinations proved still more effective than not being unvaccinated. The possibility for a mutation that completely avoids a vaccinated body's preparatory methods has always been a concern -- however, 1) no variant so far has come even remotely close, and 2) that's exactly why everyone needs to get vaccinated: to cut down on spread and, therefore, potential mutations (and ultimately, of course, to contain the outbreak and get back to a relatively normal status quo).
I'd love to see whatever "reports" you're referring to about those with the vaccine having a lesser ability to respond as those without it. That's something I haven't seen, nor am I seeing anything from a few searches online or in recent publications, nor does that really even make sense with how vaccines as a concept (or in real-world applications) have worked for centuries.