The new mutations of the coronavirus are becoming a problem in the fight against pandemics.
Do they also negatively affect the vaccines developed?
New variants of the coronavirus have
developed
in several countries and are also spreading
to Europe.
They could become a problem if the
vaccines
don't work so well against them.
A new study suggests that we might need a third vaccination.
Munich - It almost seemed as if the pandemic was cheating us: no sooner had the first promising vaccines been developed than
new virus variants
emerged around the world
.
And with them the question: Will the new vaccines also help against the mutations or is there a threat of new chaos?
The highly contagious virus mutations from
Great Britain and South Africa
caused particular concern
.
But the first all-clear has already been given.
Because the vaccines from
Biontech / Pfizer
and
Moderna
seem to work well at least against the British variant.
The South African remains.
Moderna has
therefore tested the effectiveness of its own drug
in a
new study
.
The investigation is currently still a preprint, so it has not yet been checked by specialist colleagues.
Moderna vaccine: Does it work against the new Corona variants from Great Britain and South Africa
The result of the study is primarily reassuring, but it is still worth taking a second look.
The pharmaceutical company and researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland came to the conclusion that the vaccine against the
South African mutant B1351
helps.
However, compared to the effect with the original virus,
up to six times fewer antibodies are
developed.
“But that doesn't mean that the active ingredient is no longer valid.
Because
antibodies
are still being
formed.
Nothing we've seen so far is about the
vaccine
worrying ", says Moderna boss Dr.
Stephen Hoge to
Time Magazine
.
Do we have to be vaccinated three times?
This is how the corona mutations work
On the other hand,
according to experts
,
mRNA vaccines are
easily adaptable and can thus be adjusted to new variants.
“A new vaccine could be adapted very quickly on the basis of mRNA technology.
Technically, this could be done in six weeks, ”says a
Biontech spokeswoman
for
Bild
.
The German pharmaceutical company is also currently checking the effectiveness of its vaccine with regard to the
corona variants
.
The
virologist Bernhard Fleckenstein
shares this opinion
.
He told the newspaper: "That is the great advantage of mRNA vaccines." Also vector vaccines, such as the one from
AstraZeneca
can be adjusted.
"But I think it will take a lot longer," explains the expert.
He considers it possible that the duration of vaccination protection will decrease due to the variants.
So it is realistic that we will have to get vaccinated more often than previously thought.
(mam)
List of rubric lists: © Gian Ehrenzeller / KEYSTONE / dpa