Now over a year into the United States’ coping with the coronavirus, we have more solutions and still more problems than we had before.
Scientists have identified a few new variants of the virus: the UK’s B.1.1.7, South Africa’s B.1.351, and Brazil’s P.1. With these variants, there comes new risks: how much easier can these variants spread? Are they substantially more dangerous? And of course, will our current vaccines recognize these variants?
In essence, we are not yet sure. It is likely that the vaccines may have to be updated and revised if efficacy proves to be a problem, but scientists agree that the best course of action is to continue to vaccine people as fast as possible, while remaining vigilant about protective measures.
Johnson and Johnson have recently announced that they too have a vaccine, but studies have shown that “the vaccine’s efficacy rate dropped from 72 percent in the United States to 57 percent in South Africa, where a highly contagious variant is driving most cases”. However, there is some good to take from this: Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine only requires one dose, is transported easier, and has been tested as effective, overall. Most importantly, it will provide the world with more seriously-needed doses, at a time when hope may be running thin.
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