MTS Help Center

  

South Africa coronavirus variant: What is the risk?

The South African variant, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351, has some significant changes that experts are studying.

Is it more dangerous?

Some of the changes involve the virus's spike protein - the part that gains the virus entry into human cells. It is also the bit that vaccines are designed around, which is why experts are concerned about these particular mutations.

There is no evidence that the South Africa variant causes more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected.

As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.

But there are concerns it can spread more readily and vaccines may not work quite as well against it.

Do vaccines work against the South Africa variant?

Current vaccines are designed around original Covid, but should still offer some protection against new variants.

It is too soon to know exactly how much protection they give, until more tests are completed, although it is extremely unlikely the mutations would render vaccines useless.

Trials of Novavax, Janssen and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines in South Africa, where B.1.351 is circulating,

suggest the variant can escape some immunity and may not stop infections.

But experts say vaccines should still offer protection against severe and life-threatening Covid-19 illness.

Results from Moderna
suggest its shot is still effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or prolonged.

Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines can be redesigned and tweaked to provide a better match in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary.

How far has it spread?

It is already the dominant virus variant in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa.

At least 20 other countries including Austria, Norway and Japan, have also found cases.

In the UK, 533 cases of the variant have been found and there is extra testing happening in affected areas to stop the spread.