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Should I Get a Coronavirus Vaccine With So Many Covid-19 Variants?

2021-02-11T18:01:09.597Z


CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Wen provides guidance on how to think about vaccines amid the proliferation of new variants of coronavirus.


The risk of not detecting covid-19 variants in time 3:48

(CNN) -

While the rate of vaccination is increasing in the United States and many parts of the world, some preliminary studies have suggested that current vaccines may not be as effective against emerging variants of the coronavirus.

As companies looking to develop booster vaccines seek to target those variants, some people have wondered: should I wait longer to get the vaccine in case there might be an even more effective one later?

Or does the arrival of variants mean that it is even more urgent to get vaccinated now?

We spoke with Dr. Leana Wen, CNN Medical Analyst, ER Physician, and Visiting Professor in the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, for guidance on how to think about vaccines amid these emerging variants.

  • The variant first detected in the United Kingdom "is going to sweep the world", warns the head of the genetic surveillance program

The risk of not detecting covid-19 variants in time 3:48

CNN: What are these variants and why could they be problematic?

Dr. Leana Wen:

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes covid-19 is an RNA virus.

These viruses are known to acquire mutations as they spread.

There are strains that have certain mutations that are cause for concern.

The variant first identified in the UK, B.1,1.7, is believed to be more contagious than existing strains.

If one variant is more contagious, it can quickly become the dominant strain and displace others.

Countries with variant B.1,1.7 have experienced a rapid increase in covid-19 infections.

Two other possibly worrisome variants are those first identified in South Africa and Brazil, named B.1,351 and P.1, respectively.

These two can also be more contagious.

Also, some studies have found that these variants could make reinfection more possible, meaning that if someone had another strain of covid-19 before, they could still be infected with these strains.

In addition, the mutations that the variants have can make them less susceptible to developed vaccines, although it is important to note that current vaccines still work against them, although perhaps a little less effectively.

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Differences between variant, mutation and strain of a virus 4:31

CNN: Isn't it worrying?

What happens if vaccines no longer work against new variants?

Dr. Wen:

This certainly is something that needs to be studied and tracked.

Research is now being done on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to ensure that they remain effective against emerging variants.

The companies have also said they are looking for booster doses that specifically target the variants.

It may end up being that we need booster doses.

Or maybe the covid-19 vaccine ends up being like a flu shot, where every year we have to get a vaccine that targets the new variants that can develop over time.

CNN: So shouldn't we wait until there's a booster and just get that shot?

Dr. Wen:

No, and this is why.

First, we don't know when those booster doses will come out.

It can take months, and booster shots may require the vaccine series to be completed first.

If you have the opportunity to get vaccinated now, you should do so to protect yourself.

Remember that the vaccines we have are still effective against the variants.

Second, we may still have to catch up with new mutations.

These RNA viruses mutate a lot.

The more they replicate, the more they mutate.

This means that the more infection there is in a community, the more likely it is that the virus circulating in that community will acquire mutations, and new variants could emerge.

Vaccines may need to continually evolve to keep up with variants, which means that, again, we may need regular booster shots.

Third, because variants arise when there is a large spread in the community, it is really important to try to reduce the level of transmission.

Vaccination is a key part of our plan to get there, as is wearing face masks, physical distancing, avoiding crowded indoor gatherings, and other public health measures.

The arrival of variants should mean that we increase vaccines even more, and that everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine and can do so should.

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If you had covid-19, here is what you should know about vaccines, variants and more

Pfizer doubles production of vaccines against covid-19 0:46

CNN: What about the new vaccines that are being developed?

Could they be more effective against variants?

Dr. Wen:

We don't know.

This is why it is difficult to compare the effectiveness of vaccines face to face.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were developed and tested before these more worrisome variants became dominant.

Johnson & Johnson and Novavax were subsequently tested, including at some sites with these variants in circulation.

Over time we may get more research on the specific efficacy of vaccines against each variant, although I want to draw our attention to why vaccine trials are important - the very real risk of serious illness and hospitalization.

That is ultimately what makes Covid-19 such a serious disease.

If vaccines can reduce the severity of the disease to the point of preventing people who receive the vaccine from getting so sick that they are hospitalized, that is what we really want.

CNN: What if I have already had coronavirus?

Should I still get the vaccine?

Does it matter which strain I got when I got infected?

Wen:

Yes. Especially now that it seems that reinfection with the variants could occur, it is even more important that those who have already had coronavirus also get vaccinated.

When it comes to knowing what strain you have, the United States has done very little genomic sequencing of the infections we've had.

That means that when people are diagnosed with coronavirus infections, we are not doing the specialized tests we need to see which variant is caused by the infection.

Until recently, we were doing less than 0.5% of all cases;

it is now starting to rise, but it is still relatively low compared to other countries.

By comparison, Denmark is sequencing more than half of its positive cases.

You are unlikely to know what strain you had of your infection before, so the recommendation remains that you should get the vaccine if you are eligible.

Vaccination could be a golden ticket to travel 0:54

CNN: With the arrival of more contagious strains, are there any additional precautions we need to take other than getting vaccinated when we can?

Dr. Wen:

The good news about emerging strains is that they are still spread in the same way, via the respiratory tract, mainly through close contact and also via aerosol transmission.

(While surface transmission is also possible, it probably contributes less than these other methods.)

That means the same precautions you've been taking to avoid getting COVID-19 still apply with the new variants.

But here is a concern.

Normal covid-19 strains are already contagious enough, but newer strains are even more contagious.

That means activities that we thought were low risk are now more dangerous.

We have to take even more steps to protect ourselves.

Wearing two masks, does it help protect you from the coronavirus?

3:19

That means wearing a good quality mask whenever you are six feet from other people outdoors and whenever you are indoors with other people outside of your home.

Wear at least a three-layer surgical mask.

Some use a cloth mask that fits better over a looser surgical mask.

Wearing two masks can significantly improve protection, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed Wednesday.

An N95 or KN95 mask can be useful if you are going to be in particularly enclosed places where you cannot physically distance yourself, although these masks are in short supply and can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.

You should be even more careful to avoid being indoors with other people and, if necessary, maintain physical detachment and try to be alone in well-ventilated spaces.

The arrival of the most contagious variants means that we must redouble the public health measures that we know are effective in reducing the transmission of Covid-19.

The race to vaccinate is also crucial.

The best tool we have to slow down the development of more variants is to slow down the spread of the virus.

So please, let's get vaccinated when it's our turn and let's stay safe, for you and those around you.

Covid-19Vaccine against coronavirus variant coronavirus

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-02-11

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