COVID-19 variants emerging as vaccine rollout continues
Public health officials continue to study and monitor variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that originated from the U.K., South Africa and Brazil. All three COVID-19 variants have been documented in the U.S.
Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants are expected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These three variants appear to spread COVID-19 more easily, but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness or increase risk of death.
"The CDC is continuing to do surveillance across the United States to pick up the emergence of these variants here," says Dr. Melanie Swift, co-chair of Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Distribution Work Group. "The variant that's in the U.K.—that has become the predominant strain there—has been detected in the United States. That variant has several mutations, and they all have more than one mutation. But the important thing is exactly where the mutations happen."
Scientists are working quickly to learn more about these variants, as they are seeking to control their spread. Research suggests that the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines still protect people from these COVID-19 variants. However, scientists are studying the possibility of adding booster doses after finding that the COVID-19 vaccines may be less potent against the South African variant.
"It has to do with the spike protein, which is what the messenger RNA vaccines make our bodies create. As long as the spike protein we create after vaccination is very similar to what's circulating in the community, then we'll be protected from those circulating strains," says Dr. Swift. "So we're watching the spike protein carefully. The variant that we've seen in South Africa has more mutations in the spike protein. And that means we're more concerned that vaccine might be less effective for that strain."
Even if variants affect the strength of the vaccines, experts say you still should get vaccinated for COVID-19. While it might not fight the variant virus as well, it's still fighting it.
Meanwhile, continue following precautions for avoiding infection with the COVID-19 virus, such as wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and washing your hands frequently.
©2021 Mayo Clinic News Network
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
"Wafanyakazi wa afya ya umma wanaendelea kusoma na kufuatilia aina tofauti za virusi vya SARS-CoV-2 ambavyo vimetokana na Uingereza, Afrika Kusini na Brazil.""" Aina tatu za COVID-19 zimepatikana nchini Marekani Virusi hubadilika mara kwa mara kupitia mabadiliko, na aina mpya zinatarajiwa, kulingana na Vituo vya Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa (CDC). Aina hizi tatu zinaonekana kueneza COVID-19 kwa urahisi zaidi, lakini hakuna ushahidi kwamba husababisha ugonjwa mbaya zaidi au kuongeza hatari ya kifo. "CDC inaendelea kufanya uchunguzi kote Marekani ili kugundua kuibuka kwa aina hizi hapa, ""alisema Daktari Melanie Swift, mwenyekiti mwenza wa Kikundi cha Kazi cha Ugawaji na Usambazaji wa Chanjo ya COVID-19 ya Mayo Clinic." "Tofauti hiyo iliyopo Uingereza - ambayo imekuwa aina kuu huko - imegunduliwa nchini Marekani. Tofauti hiyo ina mabadiliko kadhaa, na yote yana mabadiliko zaidi ya moja. Lakini jambo muhimu ni mahali hususa ambapo mabadiliko hayo hutukia". Wanasayansi wanafanya kazi haraka kujifunza zaidi juu ya tofauti hizi, kwani wanatafuta kudhibiti kuenea kwao. Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa chanjo za Pfizer, BioNTech na Moderna bado zinawalinda watu dhidi ya aina hizi za COVID-19. Hata hivyo, wanasayansi wanachunguza uwezekano wa kuongeza dozi za booster baada ya kugundua kuwa chanjo za COVID-19 zinaweza kuwa na nguvu kidogo dhidi ya aina ya Afrika Kusini. "Hiyo ni kwa sababu ya ""spike protein"" ambayo ni kile chanjo za RNA ya mjumbe hufanya miili yetu iunda." """Maadamu protini ya spike tunayounda baada ya chanjo ni sawa na ile inayosambaa katika jamii, basi tutalindwa kutoka kwa vimelea hivyo vinavyosambaa,"" anasema Dk." Haraka. "Kwa hiyo tunaangalia protini ya spike kwa uangalifu. Aina ya virusi vilivyoonekana Afrika Kusini vimeathiriwa na mabadiliko ya protini ya spike. "Hii inamaanisha kuwa tuna wasiwasi zaidi kwamba chanjo inaweza kuwa na ufanisi mdogo kwa aina hiyo ya virusi.""" Hata kama tofauti hizo zinaathiri nguvu ya chanjo, wataalamu wanasema bado unapaswa kupata chanjo ya COVID-19. Ingawa huenda isiweze kupambana na virusi tofauti, bado inashindana nayo. "Kama ilivyo kwa watu wengine, ""endelea kufuata tahadhari za kuepuka kuambukizwa na virusi vya COVID-19, kama vile kuvaa kinyago, umbali wa kijamii, kuepuka makusanyiko makubwa na kuosha mikono yako mara kwa mara.""" 2021 Mayo Clinic News Network - Toleo la kwanza la habari