Understanding the infectiousness of the double mutant variant becomes all the more important as noncompliance to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is uniformly poor across India. Yet, the surge in cases is seen only in 19 States, and mainly in about a dozen States. In the absence of timely results of such studies, which will help policy … Continue reading What is driving the second wave in India?
Brazilian variant B.1.1.28
Proving variant-specific efficacy will be a logistic nightmare, very expensive: Gagandeep Kang
Influenza vaccines are decided based on strains recommended by WHO twice a year for northern and southern hemisphere vaccines. They require animal studies in ferrets and small safety and immunogenicity studies, based on measurement of antibodies. If we had a reasonable antibody measurement which could reflect protection, then we could potentially follow a similar strategy … Continue reading Proving variant-specific efficacy will be a logistic nightmare, very expensive: Gagandeep Kang
Moderna, Pfizer vaccines neutralise variants encoding mutations E484K or N501Y but with less potency
The neutralisation by 14 of the 17 most potent antibodies was reduced or abolished by either K417N, or E484K, or N501Y mutations in sera of people vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. In a small cohort involving just 20 trial participants, researchers have found that both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are able to neutralise SARS-CoV-2 variants … Continue reading Moderna, Pfizer vaccines neutralise variants encoding mutations E484K or N501Y but with less potency
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