A comprehensive study conducted by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is still effective against the COVID-19 mutation found in South Africa.
The results do not indicate a potential need for formulating a new vaccine and are pending further scrutiny by relevant authorities.
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As per reports, tests were conducted on blood samples extracted from patients who had been vaccinated. The researchers observed less than a two-fold decrease in their antibody counts, therefore, indicating that more doses of the vaccine periodically would neutralize the so-called E484K and N501Y COVID-19 mutations.
The research team leading the study is currently experimenting with a full set of mutations and plans on arriving at definitive results in the coming weeks.
Team lead, Pei Yong Shi, who is also a professor at UTMB, said in a statement that the experiment also reveals promising results against the highly transmissible UK variant of the virus. Shi added the team is working on a full set of mutations from that variant as well.
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Although these findings do not indicate much, Pfizer and BioNTech are well equipped to respond if a SARS-CoV-2 mutation shows evidence of evading the vaccine.
