British, Brazilian and South African variants of coronavirus: virus mutations are spreading.
An expert explains how effective vaccinations are against them.
In the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the Covid pathogen Sars-CoV-2 has changed.
Depending on where the infection with the respective virus mutant was first diagnosed, the following variant names were used: the British corona mutation B.1.1.7, the South African variant 501.V2 and the Brazilian virus mutation P.1.
The genetic makeup of the coronavirus has changed in the case of these already known variants -
the mutations therefore have new properties
.
Every time the virus spreads in the body and the genetic material is multiplied, there is a risk that it will change.
This is not only the case with the coronavirus.
In the case of the flu, for example, the vaccines have to be adjusted annually because influenza viruses can change quickly.
As
Deutschlandfunk
reported, however, we would be lucky
that the coronavirus is not quite as susceptible to mutations as the flu virus.
Does corona vaccination protect against serious disease caused by virus mutations?
Researchers assume that the "British virus" or the "South Africa variant" are far more contagious than the conventional virus variant.
The virus mutant, first discovered in the Brazilian city of Manaus, should also be able to spread much faster.
Virus mutations have also already gained a foothold in Germany
.
According to the
Ärztezeitung
,
the Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
reports that almost six percent of the Sars-CoV-2-positive samples are said to be the British virus variant B.1.1.7.
Infections with the South African mutation have already been reported in Germany.
The Brazilian variant has now been detected in around 20 countries worldwide, including Germany, as
reported by
Deutschlandfunk
.
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Virus variants cause governments and medical professionals to worry above all because, according to the current state of knowledge, they can spread faster than the conventional wild type.
For the UK variant virus type not previously published studies the
Germany radio
According even indications
caused that B.1.1.7 heavier Covid-19 courses and may incur as a result of an increased risk of death
compared to infection with the conventional virus .
The British advisory body NERVTAG would have emphasized, however, that the data situation is not yet sufficient to make final statements.
Virus mutations also present researchers with new challenges with regard to vaccinations.
The variant from South Africa is forcing Moderna and Pfizer to readjust their Covid-19 vaccines and develop “booster vaccinations”, as
Stern
informs.
And
according to
the
Apotheken Umschau
, there are indications that the vaccines currently available do not work as efficiently against virus mutants as against the conventional variant.
However, initial studies would also show
that vaccination can also curb the spread of mutations and positively influence the course of the disease
.
In short: Vaccination with the Biontech, Moderna or Astrazeneca vaccine reduces the risk of a severe Covid course - even if you have been infected with a virus mutation.
More on the topic
: Still sick after corona vaccination?
The new mRNA vaccines against Covid are so safe.
+
The mask requirement is a measure to prevent virus mutations from spreading.
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"The vaccination always protects to a certain extent": Adaptation of the vaccine possible
The Gießen virologist Friedemann Weber told the editorial network Germany (RND) that it can be assumed that in the case of mutations, the vaccination protection in relation to the symptoms would decrease somewhat and there could be more severe courses.
But: "The vaccination always protects to a certain extent," the RND expert is quoted as saying.
If it will be necessary to adapt vaccines in the future, this can be done within six weeks for mRNA vaccines such as Biontech and Moderna, as the Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, Carsten Watzl, explains according to the RND: “
There must you just change the sequence of letters in the genetic blueprint, ”says Watzl
.
A conversion of the Astrazeneca production could be implemented in around twelve weeks, since it is a vector vaccine.
According to Watzl, it could take six months before the adapted vaccines are available on the market.
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