There are worries that, as variants of the COVID-19 virus emerge in places like the U.K., South Africa and Brazil, we will need to continue to get new vaccines. Epidemiologist Dr. Celine Gounder explains how current vaccines fight variants and whether we will need to get booster shots alongside our yearly flu shots indefinitely.

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Variants are actually very common in the world of microorganisms. For viruses, the term variant is used to describe a strain that is genetically distinct from the original. Of course, better survival for viruses is not always ideal for us.

And this is what people are worried about. If the virus mutates in a way that makes it spread more quickly or cause more dangerous symptoms, it can also be different enough for a vaccine to no longer be effective against it.

What makes a virus variant fit into one of these concerning categories is all about where the mutation is and how it changes the shape of the virus’s proteins. This is why virologists are keeping such a close eye on the variants. They need to know if these are ones that can evade the current vaccines.

#covid19 #covid-19 #disease #health #seeker #science #sick

More on COVID-19:

Dr. Celine Gounder’s Podcast “Epidemic”
EPIDEMIC is a weekly series on the science, public health, and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We help you understand the latest science and the bigger context, bringing you diverse angles—from history to politics to virology—depth and texture you won’t get elsewhere.
https://www.justhumanproductions.org/...

Immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in humans
The vaccine has demonstrated clinical efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19, including against the B.1.351 variant that is partially resistant to neutralizing antibodies1. However, the immunogenicity of this vaccine in humans against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern remains unclear.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158...

RNA virus mutations and fitness for survival
RNA viruses exploit all known mechanisms of genetic variation to ensure their survival. Distinctive features of RNA virus replication include high mutation rates, high yields, and short replication times.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9343347/

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