THE AstraZeneca Covid vaccine DOES work against the mutant Brazil variant, a source has claimed.
Preliminary data from a University of Oxford study reportedly shows that the jab doesn’t need to be modified to protect against the strain.
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The Oxford jab does work against the mutant Brazil variant, a source has claimedCredit: Reuters
A source told Reuters today that the findings show the vaccine is effective against the P1 variant, which originated in the Brazilian city of Manaus.
The source, who requested anonymity as the results have not yet been made public, did not provide the exact efficacy of the vaccine against the variant.
They said the full results of the study are expected to be released soon – possibly later this month.
Early results indicated the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the South African variant, which is similar to P1.
South Africa subsequently paused the use of the vaccine in the country.
The information comes as a small-sample study suggested the Covid-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac may not work effectively against the Brazilian variant.
Responding to a request for comment, Fiocruz, which sent the samples that formed the basis of the study, told Reuters it did not have any information on the study, as it was being led by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.
Representatives for AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Brazil is currently confronting a brutal and long-lasting second wave of the coronavirus, hitting a daily record of 1,910 deaths on Wednesday.
The P1 variant is among the factors that epidemiologists believe is contributing to a rise in cases and deaths, and there has been concern in the scientific community about the variant’s resistance to vaccines.
