The SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to and enters human cells using its “spike protein”. Vaccines are designed to generate antibodies that bind to the virus’s spike protein and interfere with its ability to infect our cells. Some of the emerging mutations being found in coronavirus variants result in slightly different shaped “spikes”.
Previous laboratory studies have found that the antibodies generated either by vaccines or in people who have previously had COVID infections do not bind as tightly to the spikes on some coronavirus variants, and therefore are less effective at neutralizing the variant viruses. Prior to this study, it was not known if this reduction in binding affinity and neutralization would also reduce the effectiveness of vaccines in real-world use.
This study followed almost 400 people in Israel who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID vaccine. The study found that the B.1.351 variant caused infection even in those who had received the full course of vaccination of two shots of the Pfizer product, showing that this variant can evade the vaccine’s protection.
“We found a disproportionately higher rate of the South African variant among people vaccinated with a second dose, compared to the unvaccinated group. This means that the South African variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccine’s protection,” said Tel Aviv University’s Dr. Adi Stern.
IMAGE: CDCThe study also evaluated the B.1.1.7 (“U.K.”) variant, and found that there were more infections in people who had received just the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but protection was seen after the second dose.
The B.1.351 variant contains a mutation called E484K (often pronounced “eek”) that is also shared with other variants, including P.1 (“Brazilian”) against which vaccines have also shown reduced activity in laboratory studies. The study released on Saturday is important because it shows real-world experiences that reduced vaccine activity in lab tests can translate into reduced vaccine effectiveness and protection from infection.
The B.1.351 variant has been found in 36 states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts. It has not yet been reported in Rhode Island. The P.1 variant has been reported in 28 states so far, including Rhode Island.
This study underscores the importance of maintaining preventative safety measures including wearing masks and social distancing, particularly in Rhode Island where the level of infection is high. Over the past few days, the infection rate in Rhode Island increased to 38.3/100,000/day, moving up a step to now being the third highest in the U.S.
Nick Landekic a retired scientist and biotechnology executive with over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
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