Pfizer vaccine may be effective against Brazil Covid variant, study suggests

9 March 2021, 17:16

The Pfizer vaccine may be effective against the coronavirus variant that emerged in Manaus, Brazil
The Pfizer vaccine may be effective against the coronavirus variant that emerged in Manaus, Brazil. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may be effective against the Brazil coronavirus variant, a new study suggests.

So far six cases of the worrying strain, first identified in Manaus, have been found in the UK.

Laboratory research which tested the jab against an engineered version of the virus also found it generated an antibody response against the Kent and South Africa variants.

READ MORE: 'All the modelling' suggests new Covid-19 surge in 2021, Chris Whitty tells MPs

READ MORE: Scotland lockdown eases with four people allowed to meet outdoors from Friday

All three strains carry mutations in the spike protein of the virus, which it uses to attach to human cells.

Researchers found levels of neutralising antibodies were generated against all of them, although this varied between variants.

The response was greatest against the original variant and against the more transmissible B117 Kent variant, according to a correspondence published in New England Journal Of Medicine.

It was slightly lower against the Brazil P1 variant and lower still against the South Africa B151 variant, the researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch and Pfizer found.

Nick Ferrari's furious rant at caller who refuses Covid jab

The tests used the blood of 15 people who had received two doses of the vaccine.

Dr Peter English, consultant in communicable disease control, said: "Reassuringly, while the levels were lower for the P1 and B151 variants, they were still substantial, and likely to indicate that the vaccine will be effective."

But he added: "Precisely how effective they are in the real world will require data on the vaccine's actual effect in populations, not just in laboratory studies such as this one."

Dr English, the former editor of vaccines in Practice Magazine and former chairman of the BMA Public Health Medicine Committee, said: "This study looked only at the neutralising antibody levels generated in the serum of people who had received two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine."

"Other aspects of the immune response, such as T-cell (cellular) immunity are likely to be important in real-world vaccine efficacy," he said.

He added: "In itself, this study does not provide any evidence about other vaccines.

"However, we know that other available vaccines use precisely the same antigen, albeit delivered in different ways.

"Given this, it is highly plausible that other vaccines will have similar efficacies against these variant strains but we do not know this for certain."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Two detained following Gatwick Airport bomb scare as police 'ramp up presence' in terminal

Two detained following Gatwick Airport bomb scare as police 'ramp up presence' in terminal

Breaking
Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor raped woman in hotel, civil jury finds, as she is awarded damages

Donald Trump

Donald Trump hush money sentencing postponed as judge says president-elect can seek dismissal

Backpacker Sarisha said the Nana Backpackers Hostel offered free alcohol in exchange for good reviews

Hostel at centre of 'mass methanol poisoning' offered free shots in exchange for good reviews, backpacker claims

Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'kind and loving daughter'

Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'kind and loving daughter'

Queen Camilla to miss Royal Variety as she continues recovery following chest infection

Queen Camilla to miss Royal Variety as she continues recovery following chest infection

Gatwick South Terminal to reopen after bomb scare but passengers still face flight delays and cancellations

Gatwick South Terminal reopens after bomb scare but passengers still face flight delays and cancellations

London, UK. 22nd November 2024. Police cordon and firefighters on the scene at the Embassy of USA in London following a controlled explosion of a suspicious package. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy Live News

Police say US embassy 'suspect package' was probably a hoax after carrying out controlled explosion

Many Britons again faced freezing temperatures overnight

Brits brace for Storm Bert: Met Office issues amber weather warning for snow - with up to 40cm set to fall

Harshita

'We will never forget you till our last breath': Family of Harshita Brella pay tribute - as manhunt continues for killer

Live
Gatwick airport.

LIVE: Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious item found'

Exclusive
Negative images from Band Aid did 'more bad than good' for Africa, says rapper Fuse ODG

Negative images from Band Aid did 'more bad than good' for Africa, rapper Fuse ODG tells LBC

Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious bag found near train station' as bomb squad called in

Gatwick Airport South Terminal evacuated after 'suspicious bag found near train station' as bomb squad called in

Simone White will be 'sincerely missed', a tribute to her has said

Devastated colleagues pay tribute to British lawyer as Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ death toll rises to six

Colette Fairbanks was sacked after sharing ‘offensive’ posts

Brexit views not protected from workplace discrimination, tribunal rules after woman sacked over ‘offensive’ posts

The Metropolitan Police carried out a controlled detonation of a suspect package near the US embassy in London

US Embassy in London on 'lockdown' as police investigate 'suspect package'