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While the COVID-19 vaccination programs are still in progress all over the world, news of these new coronavirus variants can be quite concerning.
As we all eagerly await the end of the coronavirus pandemic, one source of concern we have is the coronavirus mutations we hear every so often in the news. With the COVID-19 vaccination programs still underway, it can be worrisome to have to face new strains of the coronavirus.
Without a doubt, these new variants pose more questions and can cause more fears among us. It’s therefore important to find trustworthy sources of information and avoid spreading misinformation that could trigger panic in our community.
That said, let’s discuss some essential points to these coronavirus mutations.
Virus mutations are nothing new or unforeseen — all viruses evolve over time, and this includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is because when a virus replicates or copies itself, there is a chance that it can change slightly. These are what we call mutations, and the virus that has one or more new mutations is labeled as a variant.
When a virus is widely circulating in a community and causing numerous infections, the probability of mutation also increases. Keep in mind that as the virus is given more opportunities to spread, the more it replicates – and the more chances it has to mutate.
In general, the ability of most viruses to cause infections and diseases is unaffected by most mutations. However, depending on where the changes occur in the virus's genetic material, they can have an effect on the virus's properties. These can dictate how more easily it can spread, or whether it may cause a more severe type of disease.
For example, the mutations in the B.1.1.7 version from England (which was observed to be more contagious) appear to affect the coronavirus's spike protein. As a result of changes in the spike protein, some of these new strains have become “stickier” — meaning they can attach themselves better to human cells in the nose, lungs, and other areas of the body.
To distinguish the various classes of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) in the US, has established this classification scheme:
This is a variant with specific genetic markers that demonstrate changes in receptor binding, decreased neutralization by antibodies generated in response to previous infection or vaccination, decreased treatment efficacy, potential diagnostic impact, or anticipated increase in transmissibility or disease severity. In the US, there are several variants that are being monitored and characterized by the CDC.
A variant of concern shows evidence of increased transmissibility, cause more severe disease (such as increased hospitalizations or deaths), and a significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination. With this variant, there’s also a decreased effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.
As such, it requires one or more appropriate public health actions, which includes a notification to WHO under the International Health Regulations.
It has been reported that researchers are taking a closer look at the variant known as B.1.351, which was discovered in South Africa because preliminary data show that the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine offered only “minimal” defense against that strain of coronavirus. Those who became ill from the B.1.351 coronavirus variant after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had mild to moderate symptoms.
Also just recently, British health officials have labeled a coronavirus variant first found in India (B.1.617.2) a variant of concern due to evidence that it spreads more easily.
This type of variant would show clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures (MCMs) are significantly less effective than previously circulating variants. This would require the announcement of prevention or containment strategies, and recommendations to update treatments and vaccines.
As of writing, there are currently no SARS-CoV-2 variants that are of high consequence.
Virus mutations are nothing new or unforeseen — all viruses evolve over time, and this includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is because when a virus replicates or copies itself, there is a chance that it can change slightly. These are what we call mutations, and the virus that has one or more new mutations is labeled as a variant.
According to professor of infectious diseases and expert in SARS-CoV-2 Robert Bollinger, there is no need to overreact. As with any virus, he said that changes must be monitored to ensure that testing, treatment, and vaccines remain effective.
The WHO also believes that the coronavirus vaccines can still provide some defense against these new virus strains, even those that are still under development. This is because they elicit a broad immune response involving a variety of antibodies and cells. As a result, changes or mutations in the virus should not render vaccines completely useless. If any of these vaccines prove to be less effective against one or more variants, the vaccines' composition can be changed to protect against these variants.
For our part then, as we are learning more about these strains, we must do everything we can to stop the virus's spread in order to prevent mutations that could reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines.