The vaccines that are given to protect against Covid-19 are “almost certainly less effective” against preventing the transmission of variant B1.617.2 first identified in Indiasaid a leading British scientist advising the country’s vaccination program on Saturday.
Oxford University Professor Anthony Harnden, vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), said it was important to approach easing the lockdown in England with “extreme caution” as it remains unclear exactly how much is transmissible the variant found in India.
However, he reiterated that so far there has been no evidence of an increased severity of the disease or that the special mutation of the coronavirus evades the vaccine.
“The vaccines may be less effective against minor diseases, but we do not think they are any less effective against serious diseases. However, when combined with their lower effectiveness against minor diseases, they are almost certainly less effective against the transmission,” said Prof. Harnden told the BBC.
“We don’t yet know how much more transmissible it is. All of the evidence so far suggests that there is no sign of increased disease severity or that it is evading the vaccine. So for now based on the evidence, we are Do the right thing, proceed coolly and calmly with Monday but keep an eye on everything, “he said, referring to the next phase of the easing of the lockdown, which begins in England on Monday.
His comments follow British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s press conference on Downing Street on Friday night, when he focused on the “major unknowns” related to variant B1.617.2, believed to be largely behind India’s devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is stuck.
“We think this variant is more transferable than the previous one – in other words, it passes more easily from person to person – but we don’t know how much,” said Johnson.
“I’ve been told that we can go more or less as planned if it’s only marginally more transferable.
However, if the virus is much more transmissible, then we are likely faced with difficult choices. We’ll learn a lot more about this in the coming days and weeks, “he said on a note that a planned schedule for the end of all lockdown measures on June 21 is likely to change.
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He also noted the “good news” that there is no evidence yet that the vaccines administered by the National Health Service (NHS), including the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine used as Covishield in India, will be less effective Protecting people from serious illness and hospitalization.
“I think we should trust our vaccines to protect the public while also monitoring the situation very closely. Because the race between our vaccination program and the virus may become a lot closer,” he said.
According to the British action plan to combat the B1.617.2 variant (VOC) identified for the first time in India, all over 50-year-olds and the most vulnerable groups are to be offered their second Covid-19 vaccine dose earlier than planned.
The dates for a second dose of vaccine will be brought forward from 12 to eight weeks for these groups.
People under the age of 50 continue to receive their first dose, the second after 12 weeks, as was previously the case with the deployment strategy.
“We have been taking action at record speed to access this new variant and control its spread. Everyone has a role to play in this effort – accept the invitation to get a nudge when it comes to it, and when you are in.” live in one of the areas. ” In areas where we have introduced surge testing, you will receive your free PCR test. Let’s work on it together, “said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
The move is supported by targeted new activities to accelerate vaccine uptake among eligible cohorts in Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, one of the 15 hardest hit areas of the B1.617.2 VOC.
In some of these hotspots, public health officials are being assisted by the Army to distribute coronavirus tests as part of door-to-door trips.
“This step is a belt-and-braces approach to ensuring that as many people as possible have the full protection that a vaccine offers. Book your sting when contacted,” said Nadhim Zahawi, UK vaccine- Deployment Minister.
The government’s Scientific Group on Emergencies (SAGE) believes that B.1.617.2 VOCs could be up to 50 percent more transmissible than one first registered last year in the Kent region of south east England, which is the dominant pollutant Great Britain represents.
The latest data on variant B1.617.2 released Thursday by Public Health England (PHE) shows the number of cases across the UK has increased from 520 last week to 1,313 this week.
Most of the cases are in the north-west of England, with some in London.
In the UK, which has seen 128,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic last year, new infections have fallen sharply and daily deaths have been in the single digits in recent days.
As part of a pre-set lockdown-easing roadmap, most companies will resume full activity starting Monday. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also following similar patterns, although the Scottish government has kept the city of Glasgow and the northern area of Moray under restrictions due to increasing numbers of B1.617.2 VOCs.
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