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COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine is Here, What About Mutations?

Since 2020, millions of people are battling against the COVID-19 coronavirus every day. Today, in 2021, with the vaccine discovery, countries have gained positivity. But no common man expected a mutant strain of COVID-19 ten months ago.

In March 2020, a cancer patient who tested positive for COVID 19 died after the treatment with antiviral drug and plasma from recovered individuals. By examining the plasma samples, scientists discovered that a new dominant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the reason for his death.

Series of Mutations across the Globe

A mutant variant called the E484K was found in the UK strains of Bristol and Liverpool COVID-19 positive patients.

Another set of scientists at the University of Manitoba, Canada, identified two variants: V1176F and D614G. Experts stated that these variants expressed a higher fatality rate than the old strain.

A Healthline article mentioned that researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory identified the D614G mutation. They also predict that this mutated variant must have been the cause for most infections in Europe and the United States.

Post the identification of mutated strains in different parts of the world, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requested each state in the U.S. to test around 750 samples a week for the presence of variants.

A team of experts at Oxford University is currently analyzing the potency of the vaccines discovered, their potency to reduce transmission, and their ability to fight against the variants of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Efficacy of Vaccines against Mutations

A group of scientists at Rockefeller University, New York, studies the blood plasma from vaccinated people. They found that the vaccine was able to combat the B.1.351 variant.

As the mutations look similar to one another, research scientists claim that the mutations seem weaker than the original (COVID-19) virus.

In contrast, experts at the Rockefeller University, New York, analyzed blood samples of vaccinated individuals for their effectiveness against the mutated variants of COVID-19 coronavirus. The results showed that only one-third of the samples demonstrated effectiveness. This brings the need for COVID-19 vaccine variations to tackle the emerging mutated variants.

Important Influences

So far, a few mutant strains have demonstrated no significant difference in their transmission or infection rate. In contrast, some other mutant strains show higher fatality rates than the earlier COVID-19 coronavirus strains.

These variations, however, have not impacted the research scientists. They strive to make changes to current vaccines that can effectively act against the recently evolved viral strains. Experienced and Nobel laureates suggest that these mutations can lead to a weaker virus. Also, they believe that, over time, the fatality rates may further reduce upon multiple mutations.

After all, every virus undergoes mutations for its survival. Likewise, let’s develop varied vaccines for the welfare of humans.

What’s our key takeaway point from COVID-19 coronavirus mutations?

The innate or natural immunity developed against a natural infection may not be enough to resist the implications of the lethal COVID-19 variants. The vaccines developed so far are not 100% effective. On the other hand, new mutant strains of COVID-19 coronavirus are identified from different parts of the globe. Amid all these difficulties and discoveries, the only way to stay protected is prevention.

Staying protected through handwashing and maintaining social distancing alone will not be sufficient to keep the lethal virus at bay. We need to think smart and start investing in smart devices like UV sanitizers. The companies like IZAK Scientific have introduced devices like PXL sanitizers to keep not only COVID-19 coronavirus strains at bay but most of the contagious microorganisms away from us.

Let our researchers around the world continue working to find the mutant strains and highly efficacious vaccines. Let’s do our part by keeping our premises safe for human use through UV sanitation. Let’s remember, prevention is always better than cure!

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