Pfizer-BioNTech say their Covid vaccine works against UK, South Africa variants
(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 28, 2020 a syringe and a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen at the medical centre of Tzrifin military base in the Israeli town of Rishon Lezion. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Pfizer and BioNTech, makers of a Covid-19 vaccine, said on Thursday that their product is effective against coronavirus variants that have emerged in Britain and South Africa.
In a statement, the two companies said the “small differences” detected in tests comparing the original virus and the recent versions “are unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine.”
While the findings indicated no need for a new vaccine to tackle the new strains, Pfizer and BioNTech said they would respond if there was evidence that the variants could defeat their current vaccine.
They would continue to monitor their vaccine’s “real-world effectiveness,” including against new strains, they said.
“Pfizer and BioNTech believe that the flexibility of BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA vaccine platform is well suited to develop new vaccine variants if required,” they said.
Article continues after this advertisementDaily global deaths from Covid-19 topped 18,000 for the first time Wednesday, with vaccines seen as the only real chance of returning to some form of normality.
RELATED STORIES
Moderna says it believes vaccine will work against new variants
UK Covid-19 variant already detected in PH as early as Dec. 10, says expert
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
