People who have had the Pfizer vaccine have lower antibody levels targeting the Indian coronavirus variant than those against previously circulating strains in the UK, new data has found. But it could also fuel concern that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective in preventing serious illness from the more-transmissible Indian variant, known as Delta. The Indian variant is now believed to be dominant in the UK, with early evidence suggesting it may lead to an increased risk of being admitted to hospital compared with the Kent variant. According to the research, in people who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, levels of neutralising antibodies were more than five times lower against the Indian variant when compared to the original strain, upon which current vaccines are based. PHE said it was concerned that a single dose could be up to 20 per cent less effective than it was against the Kent variant.

Source: The Nation June 04, 2021 00:00 UTC