Vaccine scientists are already testing the new coronavirus variant
Scientists at BioNTech have already started investigating the impact of a new coronavirus variant on its Covid-19 vaccine, with data expected within the next couple of weeks.
“We understand the concern of experts and have immediately initiated investigations on variant B.1.1.529,” BioNTech, the German company that partnered with Pfizer to make its Covid-19 vaccine, said in a statement Friday. “We expect more data from the laboratory tests in two weeks at the latest.”
The new variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
BioNTech said the upcoming data would shed light on ”whether B.1.1.529 could be an escape variant that may require an adjustment of our vaccine if the variant spreads globally.”
For months, the heads of both Pfizer and BioNTech have said that the companies can adapt their vaccine, which uses mRNA technology, within six weeks and begin shipping first batches within 100 days, if needed.
疫苗科学家已经在测试新的冠状病毒变种
BioNTech 的科学家已经开始调查一种新的冠状病毒变种对其 Covid-19 疫苗的影响，预计将在未来几周内提供数据。
与辉瑞合作生产 Covid-19 疫苗的德国公司 BioNTech 周五在一份声明中说：“我们理解专家的担忧，并立即开始对变种 B.1.1.529 进行调查。” “我们预计最迟两周内会有更多来自实验室测试的数据。”
这种新变种似乎正在南非部分地区迅速传播，科学家们担心其异常多的突变可能使其更具传播性并导致免疫逃避。
BioNTech 表示，即将发布的数据将阐明“B.1.1.529 是否可能是一种逃逸变种，如果该变种在全球传播，可能需要调整我们的疫苗。”
几个月来，辉瑞和 BioNTech 的负责人都表示，如果需要，两家公司可以在六周内调整他们使用 mRNA 技术的疫苗，并在 100 天内开始运送第一批疫苗。
