In the first episode of his Corona podcast in 2021, Christian Drosten gave updates about the new virus mutation, among other things.
You have to "take these seriously".
Munich - While the
corona vaccines
sent us into the New Year with hope, despite various delivery problems, we are
still concerned about
virus mutations
around the globe.
Virologist
Christian Drosten
has now
spoken
in his first “
Coronavirus
Update” podcast with the NDR about the changed variants and described the first findings as “very remarkable”.
The
virus B.1.1.7.
you have to "take it really seriously", since initial findings from
Great Britain
and
Denmark
indicate that there is a higher
R-value
and the mutation is therefore more common.
In Denmark, according to Drosten, the situation can be observed particularly well because the genetic material is analyzed there many times.
The important question now is whether the new virus that was introduced from England will prevail against the old virus.
"If so, then we know that this variant is more widespread and that the R value of this variant is higher."
Corona mutation with an incidence value of 1.5 could be “a real problem”
If the value is actually 1.5, "then we have a real problem," warns the
head of virology at the Berlin Charité
.
The exponential growth of the mutated virus indicates an "
increased fitness
".
“As an experimental virologist, I have to swallow.
Something like that doesn't just happen. "
Actually, one knows in his department that viruses would not become so much more aggressive “by a few mutations”.
Hence his initial skepticism, which has probably still not turned into one hundred percent conviction.
"The data is coming together and that is really amazing".
However, he also assumes that it could take until Easter or May before there is clear evidence of the current fears.
Coronavirus: Christian Drosten gives the all-clear for Germany for the time being
As for the situation in
Germany
, Drosten can at least give the all-clear.
“I don't think we have a big problem with the variant at the moment.” But you have to take the situation seriously and look more closely for the mutations in this country.
Another positive water level report is that so far nothing indicates that the
corona mutation
could be more dangerous for infected people.
So far, researchers have not been able to determine any significant differences in the course of the disease.
The vaccinations should also not be stopped by the new variants.
“We are not very concerned about the mutated virus from England.
It could at most be that a couple of hundred people are not fully protected, but they get in an infection with the mutant virus is a scratchy throat. "Before a severe course but was also this small, any group by the
vaccine
protected.
Does it make sense to inject the second dose of the vaccine later to vaccinate more people faster?
This is what the new #coronavirus update with Christian Drosten is about. Https://t.co/LAEBSsxCDJ pic.twitter.com/kX1JEi2aw4
- NDR Info (@NDRinfo) January 5, 2021
Vaccines from Moderna and Biontech: Drosten mentions the possibility of vaccinating more people
With regard to the vaccines from
Biontech
and
Moderna
approved by the EU,
Drosten also believes it makes sense to administer the second dose of the vaccinations at a later point in time than is currently required.
"With
mRNA
vaccines like those from Biontech and Moderna, the immune response to the first vaccination is really strong".
So you can afford a longer waiting time between doses and vaccinate more people faster.
Scientists had also unanimously found that the sustainability of the immune protection is possibly even greater with a longer time interval.
(ta)