Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute are studying the new contagious mutation of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom to see if it could be resistant to new vaccines, according to a report.
Dr. Nelson Michael, director of the institute’s Infectious Diseases Research Center, told CNN that while there is always concern that a blow will not work if a virus moves significantly, scientists still expect vaccinations to be effective against the new tension.
“It is clear that this mutation is not a threat, but it is never known. We still have to be diligent and keep looking, “Michael told the network on Sunday.
Walter Reed experts began examining the genetic sequences of the new British variant posted online by British researchers on Thursday. As a first step, the team performs a computerized analysis.
“The analysis will allow us to assess how much care we should take. Other teams around the world are doing this analysis as well, ”said Michael.
If computerized analysis indicates a cause for concern, laboratory and animal studies should be conducted to determine more definitively whether vaccines will work on the new variant, according to CNN.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced new holiday blockades in parts of Britain that have seen the new mutation spread.
There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will be less effective against the new variant. Our experts will continue to work to improve our understanding as quickly as we can, ”Johnson said.
Dr Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, agreed: “Our current working assumption from all scientists is that the response to the vaccine should be adequate for this virus.”
Dr. William Schaffner, an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vaccines, told CNN that vaccines are still useful because viruses move constantly, but usually not in ways that would make a shot unnecessary.
“Even with mutations, the virus remains essentially the same,” Schaffner said. “It’s like a person. I can change my brown coat for a gray coat, but I’m still Bill Schaffner. I changed something, but I’m still the same person. “
Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister plans to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee later Monday, after France closed its borders for UK arrivals to stop the spread of the new strain.
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Bulgaria were among those who announced widespread restrictions on flights in the country on Sunday.
Canada, India and Poland are among the last countries to stop flights from the UK, following the leadership of many in Europe.
On Saturday, Johnson announced that he was placing London and the south-east of England in a new level of level 4 restrictions following a warning from his scientific advisers – using what is considered one of the most sophisticated genome sequencing regimes in world – that a new variant was spreading much faster than the existing strains.
He said that early indications show that the new variant is 70% more communicable and leads to the rapid spread of new infections in the capital and surrounding areas.
On Sunday, the United Kingdom recorded a record daily number of 35,928 new infections.
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