Just when we're starting to feel a little more hopeful about the pandemic, thanks to the approval and release of two vaccines (and more and more), there's a new bogeyman in the world. Well, two to be exact. We are talking about the two new variants of the new coronavirus that emerged from the United Kingdom in September (variant B.1.1.7) and South Africa in October (variant B.1.351).
A variant means that the virus has mutated or changed. This can affect its contagion or its severity. Some mutations disappear, while others continue to infect the population.
According to experts, there are multiple new variants of covid circulating around the world. However, these two are of particular concern due to reports that may be more contagious. They contain a specific mutation called N501Y that may allow the virus to replicate more rapidly in cells of the respiratory tract.
Preliminary UK data still under peer review (a process required to validate the methods used in the research) estimated that the UK variant is 56 percent more contagious compared to previous variants of the coronavirus. That differs from the original UK estimate that it was 70 per cent more contagious, but we really don't know yet.
The estimates are based on mathematical models, which have limitations, and the reality is that these variants have not been around long enough, so more data is needed to know if they are more contagious.
The thing about variants is that they really are to be expected. All viruses change. As they replicate in the body, the virus produces more "virus babies," which can cause replication errors in your genetic material. Normally this doesn't go anywhere, but sometimes these changes make the virus spread more easily from person to person.
In the coronavirus, there may be a small change in one of the spike proteins (the little hooks around its surface), allowing it to better latch onto the person's proteins or receptors to infect them.
Although experts note that these variants don't appear to be deadlier or cause more severe disease, they could cause more deaths if they can infect more people. The problem is in the number of people who get infected.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine work against the new variants?
In summary, the experts point out that there is no evidence that the variants affect how the vaccine works. In fact, new data suggests that Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine will be effective against the N501Y mutation in both UK and South African variants. This study is also due for peer review, but this is reassuring preliminary news.
However, it is something that needs more time to really know. And the scientists are on it.
The UK and South African variant are now being tested with sera from vaccinated patients to determine if there is any loss in virus inhibition compared to previous SARS-CoV-2 isolates. But, the sequence of the variants does not suggest that they would escape inhibition by the vaccines.
I mean, it looks like the vaccines will still protect you. Vaccines work stimulating tyour immune system to produce antibodies against different sections of the spike protein.
How do variants affect COVID tests?
The mutations could affect the results of some COVID-19 tests. Tests that look for the genetic material of the virus that has been altered by the mutation could produce a result false negative (that's when you're infected, but the test says no).
The risk of a false negative is low, but could occur with the Accula SARS-Cov-2 test, the TaqPath COVID-19 Combination Kit, and the COVID-19 Online Assay Kit.
If your doctor uses one of these tests, but you still suspect you have COVID-19 based on your symptoms and data from your area, you may decide to have a different test just to be sure.
How to protect yourself from new variants of coronavirus?
A variant that is potentially more contagious means it's even more important to maintain all those smart public health practices, like wearing a mask, washing your hands, limiting indoor social gatherings, maintaining social distance, and getting vaccinated when it's your turn.
With the number of cases that we are seeing now, I believe that every opportunity to close a door is a good opportunity. Try to hold as much as you can indoors, as there is a high chance that the virus will pass from one person to another. The more people doing that at the same time, the more likely we are to slow it down.