COVID-19 Strains: Should WE Be Concerned?
How Do Mutations Form in COVID-19?
COVID-19 is what is known as a RNA virus. What is RNA? RNA is essentially COVID-19s blue print in which it creates its proteins. It is similar to our DNA and how we make proteins. RNA is located inside of the virus and the major protein it creates is the spike protein. If you'd like more information about the spike protein and why it is important especially in the context of vaccines check out this post HERE. Basically, this spike protein is used by COVID-19 to attach to specific cells in our bodies and ultimately allows it to replicate inside our own cells leading to infection.
How do variants form? Through many, many cycles of infecting other cells and replicating. Every time any virus undergoes replication there is a small chance that a mutation may occur within RNA cycle that will yield a new variant that can infect someone more easily. In the context of COVID-19, the mutations commonly manifest themselves as an alteration within the spike protein. IF this occurs, this new variant will become the dominant form because the goal of the virus is to infect as many cells in as many people as possible.
The best way to stop this from occurring is through vaccinations as this allows your body to create antibodies, which can reduce the number of times the virus can replicate.
B117 aka The UK Variant
The first variant to discuss, and the one that's probably gotten the most press is the B117 variant aka the new COVID strand floating around the UK. It was first detected a few months ago in UK, but has now since made its way around the world to many countries including the United States where it has been confirmed in at least 25 different states.
It has increased transmissibility and will likely become the dominant form in the USA. In the UK, it has become the predominant form which has led to a higher infection rate and subsequently more deaths.
A preliminary study done with only 8% of the UK population with this variant that showed Individuals with B117 about 35% more likely to die from the virus no matter what age (one particular study), so there is a possibility that this variant thus has an increased risk of death, but again this is a small sample size and just one recent study. More research will definitely have to be done before we can determine if this variant actually has a higher mortality rate.
South African Variant
This variant has 8 mutations within the spike protein and upwards of 50% more infective than the original COVID-19.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been tested and showed a modest drop in protective antibodies, but still effective in reducing overall transmission rate
Brazil Variant
This variant has several mutations within the virus itself as well as the spike protein and it behaves similarly to the South African variant.
This variant could be more resistant to the newer vaccines, but further research will be necessary to confirm this.
Vaccines and new variants
Vaccines are effective, but the new variants may pose a threat earlier than scientists have predicted
The three major vaccines of Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna will produce a large number of protective antibodies to the original or COVID-19 , which will give your body a better chance of fighting off a new infection. BUT, there is still a chance to be infected with the newer strains, however, this infection rate is yet to be determined
Experts still stress the importance of getting the COVID19 vaccine as it can still provide protection against the original strain as well as give your body those antibodies to help reduce your chances of becoming infected with newer strains. Plus it will help in achieving that magic heard immunity
The good news is that since vaccines have been made against the original strains (having that base model), the future vaccines can be modified to accommodate for the new variants that present themselves in just a matter of weeks (in the form of a booster shot). Moderna announced on Jan 25th that they're developing another vaccine that can be used as a booster to protect against the South Africa variant of the coronavirus
It is possible that those who were infected with an earlier version of the virus can be reinfected with a new variant, but the actually percentage chances of this occurring is yet to be determined. If you want to give yourself the best chance and opportunity to NOT be infected with the new variants, get any of the vaccines when they are made available to you.
