Amidst the growing concerns about the most recent mutation of Delta variant (B.1.617.2) dominated during the second wave of Covid-19 in India, experts warn that covid vaccines are likely to lose their potency against fighting the coronavirus. The most recent mutation of the Delta variant is known as the Delta Plus or AY.01.
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Prof Shahid Jameel, one of India’s top virologists and former member of the INSACOG, expressed his fears that the Delta Plus variant may be capable of evading both immunities from Covid vaccination and immunity generated by earlier infections.
Explaining it, prof. Jameel said that the Delta Plus possesses all of the characteristics of the original Delta variant along with a mutation known as K417N, which was discovered in the Beta variant in South Africa. Earlier, the South African government had returned a consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines, claiming that it was ineffective against the variant there.
“It’s well-established that the Beta variant of concern evades vaccines much better than the Alpha variant or even the Delta variant,” he said.
Professor Jameel’s statement came following an epidemiologist from the World Health Organization (WHO) sayingCovid-19 vaccines show signs of reduced efficacy against the Delta variant of coronavirus variant. The vaccines, however, are still effective at preventing severe illness and death.
