US-approved vaccines effective against B1617 variant of Covid-19

 

Covid-19 vaccines approved by the United States like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson have effectiveness against the B1617 variant of the virus that is predominant in India; which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic, a top American health official said.

The observation is based on the latest data about the variant and the three major vaccines approved by the United States; said Dr Francis Collins, Director of National Institute of Science.

“The data is coming in, and it looks very encouraging that the U.S.-approved vaccines, the Pfizer; the Moderna, the J&J, do have effectiveness against this variant called B1617,” Collins told the media.

“It’s a little less effective in that case than some of the others; but it looks like it ought to be good enough to make Americans protected. And that’s really a good thing to hear,” he said in response to a question.

Early this week, the World Health Organization classified the B1617 SARS-CoV-2 variant; which was first detected in India, as a variant of concern. The WHO said that evidence showed B1617 was more transmissible.