The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine works against the contagious coronavirus variant first found in the UK, an early study shows. Researchers studied lab-made versions of both the original coronavirus and the variant, which has spread around the world. Whilst the results are reassuring, they have not yet been peer-reviewed.
The COVID-19 shot co-developed by Pfizer and BioNTech works against the contagious coronavirus variant first found in the UK,a new study from the companies has shown.
Antibodies that stop the virus from entering cells worked just as well against the variant, which experts believe is between 30% and 50% more infectious, as against the original strain under lab conditions, the authors reported.
Pfizer’s vaccine was 95% effective at protecting against COVID-19 in trials. But it was designed for the original virus, rather than variants with mutations that are spreading around the world.
The vaccine has already been distributed worldwide including to the UK, EU, US, Israel, and Japan. More than 8.8 million Pfizer shots have been given to Americans.
