Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Can Protect Against Brazil Variant: Study

Washington: A new study suggests that the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine can protect people against the concerning coronavirus variant first identified in Brazil. According to CNN, blood serum samples from people who had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine “efficiently” neutralized a version of the virus engineered to carry the same mutations as the variant, known as the P.1. For the study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine on Monday (March 8), researchers at Pfizer, BioNTech and the University of Texas Medical Branch genetically engineered the virus to create versions carrying mutations found in a range of coronavirus variants, including P.1.

Also Read: Single Dose Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Provokes Strong Immune Response: Study

They tested them against blood samples taken from 15 people two or 4 weeks after they had received a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as part of a clinical trial. The team found that the blood samples were able to neutralize the Brazil variant “roughly” as well as it could neutralize an earlier strain of the virus from January 2020.

CNN reported that the P.1 variant is suspected of fueling a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Brazil. It was found in 42 per cent of samples in one survey carried out in Manaus and cases have since emerged in countries including the US, the UK and Japan.

The P.1 variant has mutations in common with the variant first identified in South Africa that are thought to make it “more contagious” and possibly able to evade immunity from vaccines — though this new study suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may still be effective.

Also Read: Indigenous COVID-19 Vaccine, Covaxin’s Phase 2 Data Published In Lancet; Vaccine Safe, Induced High Neutralising Antibody

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.