COVID-19 variant 1.617 series including 1.617.2 Delta & 1.617.1 Kappa, and AY.1 mutation, Delta "plus"

[sharon sanders]

Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses


New study by PHE shows for the first time that 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India.


From:Public Health England
Published22 May 2021Last updated22 May 2021 ? See all updates

Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant is similar after 2 doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant dominant in the UK, and we expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death.

The study found that, for the period from 5 April to 16 May:

• the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant 2 weeks after the second dose, compared to 93% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
• 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 60% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant compared to 66% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
• both vaccines were 33% effective against symptomatic disease from B.1.617.2, 3 weeks after the first dose compared to around 50% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant

The analysis included data for all age groups from 5 April to cover the period since the B.1.617.2 variant emerged. It included 1,054 people confirmed as having the B.1.617.2 variant through genomic sequencing, including participants of several ethnicities. Data published on Thursday 20 May for vaccine effectiveness covered the period since December for those aged over 65.

The difference in effectiveness between the vaccines after 2 doses may be explained by the fact that rollout of second doses of AstraZeneca was later than for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and other data on antibody profiles show it takes longer to reach maximum effectiveness with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As with other variants, even higher levels of effectiveness are expected against hospitalisation and death. There are currently insufficient cases and follow-up periods to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes from the B.1.617.2 variant. PHE will continue to evaluate this over the coming weeks.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

This new evidence is groundbreaking ? and proves just how valuable our COVID-19 vaccination programme is in protecting the people we love.

We can now be confident that over 20 million people ? more than 1 in 3 ? have significant protection against this new variant, and that number is growing by the hundreds of thousands every single day as more and more people get that vital second dose. I want to thank the scientists and clinicians who have been working around the clock to produce this research.

It?s clear how important the second dose is to secure the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 and its variants ? and I urge everyone to book in their jab when offered.​

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said:

This study provides reassurance that 2 doses of either vaccine offer high levels of protection against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant.

We expect the vaccines to be even more effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, so it is vital to get both doses to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.​

Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said:

Almost every day we get more and more encouraging evidence about the difference our COVID-19 vaccines are making to people?s lives ? with 13,000 lives saved and 39,100 hospitalisations prevented overall.

Today?s data is astounding and a true reflection of just how important it is to get both your jabs when offered.

I encourage all those offered an appointment to get their jab booked in as soon as possible and take full advantage of the high levels of protection the vaccines bring.​

Separate PHE analysis indicates that the COVID-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented 13,000 deaths and around 39,100 hospitalisations in older people in England, up to 9 May.

Public Health England press office

Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG

Emailphe-pressoffice@phe.gov.uk

Telephone020 7654 8400

Out of hours020 8200 4400

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/v...-after-2-doses

 

[sharon sanders]

hat tip Michael Coston for link

snip

Evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness National vaccine effectiveness monitoring shows a reduction in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection after 1 dose of vaccine for B.1.617.2 compared to B.1.1.7 (moderate confidence).

Current data suggest this is an absolute reduction of approximately 20% after 1 dose. Vaccine effectiveness is higher and similar between variants after 2 doses with a possible small reduction for B.1.617.2 (low confidence).

Although this is observational data subject to some biases, it holds true across several analytic approaches, is consistent with observed outbreaks, and is supported by pseudovirus and live virus neutralisation data. There are no data on whether prevention of transmission is affected.

There are insufficient data on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease. Based on neutralisation data, vaccines are expected to remain effective against severe disease.

Monitoring continues.

Risk assessment for SARS-CoV-2 variant: VOC-21APR-02 (B.1.617.2) (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

[sharon sanders]

China Disease Control: The transmission capacity of the mutant virus that caused the Guangzhou epidemic was doubled compared to the old strain


On the afternoon of June 11, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference in Beijing to introduce the situation of epidemic prevention and control and vaccination. Feng Zijian, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at the press conference that the existing research data shows that the mutant strain that caused the Guangzhou epidemic has a relatively strong transmission capacity. It is twice as powerful as the old strain in the past, and is the first in the United Kingdom. The transmission capacity of the discovered strains has increased by more than 40%.
Feng Zijian said that the outbreak in Guangzhou was caused by the B.1.617.2 mutant strain that was first discovered in India. The World Health Organization recently named it the Delta mutant strain, which is the Latin alphabet Alpha, Beta, and Delta. To name it, this strain was named Delta mutant. Alpha mutant is actually the first B.1.1.7 mutant found in the UK. According to the data of the previous foreign research, the research on its transmission ability, cure rate, virulence rate, etc., as well as its immune escape has been continuously updated recently.
Feng Zijian introduced that this epidemic has its own characteristics, especially the number of middle-aged and elderly cases, clusters of cases, gatherings, and gatherings. This is also related to the specific lifestyle of Guangdong cities, such as drinking morning tea in venues. The vaccination rate of cases before the onset of infection is relatively low, which puts forward new and higher requirements for the implementation of epidemic response and prevention and control measures.
"Guangzhou has recently implemented strict prevention and control strategies and measures. The epidemic prevention and control situation has tended to ease, and it is developing in a very positive direction. The epidemic is in a controllable state." Feng Zijian said, in fact, since China has entered normalized prevention and control , There have been local transmission epidemics in many places in China, but these local epidemics have been found through on-site epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, seroepidemiology and digital epidemiology traceability investigations, and they are all related to overseas imported cases and imports. The related goods indicate that China’s current risk is still imported from abroad, and China is still in the normalized prevention and control stage of "preventing foreign import and preventing internal rebound."
Other key points of the conference:
Have people with new crown infection in Guangdong vaccinated? Is the vaccine not effective enough? CDC response
Can the child get the new crown vaccine? National Health Commission: Organizing experts to study and formulate policies
Can people over 60 be vaccinated? Authoritative response from the National Health Commission
National Health Commission: 100 new local confirmed cases since June
National Health Commission: As of June 10, a total of 84.529 million doses of new crown vaccine have been reported
Several people in Qianjiang have weakly positive nucleic acid tests due to contamination during vaccination. China CDC responds


zhttps://new.qq.com/omn/20210611/20210611A07M4500.html

 

[sharon sanders]

AY.1 — The new Covid variant on world radar stems from Delta variant, linked to immune escape

The first sample of AY.1 was isolated in March from Europe. In India, the variant was first found in April. So far, 156 samples have been sequenced around the world.

MOHANA BASU 15 June, 2021 8:18 am IST

New Delhi: The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of the novel coronavirus is continuing to evolve, with a new variant — AY.1 — now emerging simultaneously in several countries, including India.

Scientists from the CSIR Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB) have noted that the new variant — B.1.617.2.1, which has been designated AY.1 for simplicity — is associated with immune escape properties, which render a pathogen partially or fully resistant to the body’s immune response, vaccines and antibody therapies.

So far, 156 samples of the variant have been sequenced around the world, with the first sample isolated in March this year from Europe. In India, the variant was first found in April. So far, eight samples have been isolated from India, according to data uploaded on GISAID, an open-access repository of SARS-CoV-2 sequenced from across the world.

more...

https://theprint.in/health/ay-1-the...delta-variant-linked-to-immune-escape/677789/

 

[sharon sanders]

Vinod Scaria
@vinodscaria
Replying to
@vinodscaria
One important point to consider regarding K417N is evidence suggesting resistance to mAbs Casirivimab and Imdevimab. The mAb cocktail incidentally has received an EUA from
@CDSCO_INDIA_INF
in India. The variant freq for K417N is not much in India at this point in time

 

[sharon sanders]

snip

A coronavirus variant first identified in India is "like Covid on steroids," Andy Slavitt, former White House senior adviser for Covid-19 response, said Wednesday.

"(The Delta variant) is a more virulent strain," Slavitt told CNN. "This is like Covid on steroids. You can be around people for less time and still get exposed."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled the Delta variant a "variant of concern," a designation given to strains of a virus that scientists believe are more transmissible or can cause more severe disease. The CDC says the variant accounts for about 10% of coronavirus cases in the United States.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html

 

[sharon sanders]

Infection in 1 second without wearing a mask! Zhang Wenhong: If you don’t do this, the vaccine will be useless if Delta comes


For the recent new crown epidemic
"Delta" is a key word that cannot be avoided
Currently, the "Delta" variant
Has spread to 92 countries
WHO also said: "Delta" has strong communication ability
At the same time, it has a short incubation period and a high viral load
Features such as fast onset
And at the same time
A mutant strain called "Delta+"
Is also detected in more and more countries
It is understood that the transmission capacity of the "Delta+" strain
Stronger than the "Delta" mutant
(Previously reported >>>)

New coronavirus mutant strain "Delta+"
Mutated from the "Delta" strain
There is a mutation that can cause immune escape
According to CNN
Currently in the United States, the United Kingdom,
11 countries including India and Canada
"Delta+" mutant strain detected
my country’s Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan have also
Head-to-head confrontation with Delta (previously reported >>>)
Except for the cases infected in the previous 14 seconds
Last night, Guangzhou Daily revealed the secrets of Dongguan’s circulation
When a student passed the table of an infected person without wearing a mask, it was recruited in 1 second. At about 7:50 pm on June 12, the case Li Moumou (diagnosed on the 18th) and her husband took their family to the first floor after ordering meals. , Came to the second floor to have a meal. Almost before and after, Jia and Jing (diagnosed on the 20th and 21st, respectively) of the Dongguan campus of Guangzhou Xinhua University also entered McDonald's. Multiple video surveillance in the restaurant restored the intersection of two young faces and Li's family: the two sides did not have any conversation at all. After Li's family sat down on the second floor, Jia Mo and Jing also went upstairs. , The two did not wear masks the second they passed the Li XX table, nothing more. The child and mother-in-law who lived with Li XX had 4 nucleic acid tests, and the results were all overcast. Who would have thought that Jia and Jing would be infected the moment they passed by. "This is the weirdness of the Delta strain." said Huang Zhenyu, general dispatcher of the Dongguan Epidemic Prevention and Control Working Group.

What challenges does the mutant strain bring to the prevention and control of the epidemic?
Are domestic epidemic areas effective against mutant strains?
Is it necessary to strengthen the needle to build an immune barrier?
Yesterday, the director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases,
Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University
Zhang Wenhong guest studio
Discussed these issues with everyone

The "Delta" mutant strain has become more infectious. How much stronger is it?
Zhang Wenhong: Although "Delta" is a virus that has run faster in the world recently, no matter how fast it is, it is also a coronavirus. Relying on our current methods, through some non-drug measures, and expanded testing and vaccination, we can still control it with confidence Live it's spread. For example, Guangzhou still used the traditional Chinese style of play and finally got it under control. Now, China is basically able to quickly control various epidemics within a month.

No matter how the virus mutates, "Delta" is still a new coronavirus. What does this mean?
Zhang Wenhong: It means that the methods we used before are still effective, including vaccines. The virus is still that virus. Although it has become more cunning, it is still under the gun of the hunter. Therefore, we must continue to be vigilant, maintain the original strong anti-viral measures, and continue to strengthen vaccination.

The spread of Delta virus has accelerated, only 14 seconds. Is it necessary to have a new understanding of the concept of close contact?
Zhang Wenhong: Actually, whether it is a mutated virus or not, as long as the contact is close enough, 14 seconds of transmission is enough. Although the spread of Delta virus has accelerated, it is still the same sentence, no matter how fast it spreads, it is still a coronavirus. According to the method mentioned above, we can still control it.
With the increasing popularity of vaccination, we are more and more sure of winning. Now the data is getting more and more accurate, and the vaccine is effective. We once said that Shanghai epidemic prevention is to catch mice in a ceramic shop. I now hope that this mouse has taken "rat poison" and I can easily catch it. We vaccinate it, which is to set up obstacles for the mouse to escape. It's easy to catch it. Initially, more than 80% of the population can be protected by vaccination, and we must work hard to move in this direction.
Except for vaccines, there is no better way to slow down its spread. In the future, it is hoped that through the general vaccination of vaccines, the common people will lead a normal life as soon as possible.

In this round of the Guangzhou epidemic, 80% of patients have fever, among which 34% of patients have high fever, and the time for patients to transition from common to severe is very short, which brings challenges to treatment. Does this series of data indicate that the "Delta" variant strain is more pathogenic?
Zhang Wenhong: The current "Delta" mutant strain is terrible because you have never heard of it. According to foreign data, its case fatality rate has not risen significantly; Guangzhou counterparts have also provided us with very good According to the data, although the speed of virus progress has accelerated and the number of days to develop into severe illness has indeed shortened, so far there have been no deaths of the "delta" variant strain in China, indicating that both the severe disease rate and the fatality rate are under control. Therefore, I believe that Chinese doctors are capable of dealing with "Delta", including the following viruses.

"Delta" mutant strains are changing faster and faster. Will it cause a new wave of epidemics to appear on a large scale?
Zhang Wenhong: If such a large-scale epidemic occurs, it is possible that the type of the virus has completely changed, it is not a new coronavirus, and the original vaccine is completely ineffective. But at present, the new crown "Delta" mutant strain is not a virus type change, but has its own unique characteristics during the transmission process, so it is still under control.
What is the most important thing for citizens to do?
Zhang Wenhong: The issue of stopping the epidemic through vaccination is no longer controversial. Vaccination is very important, especially for people who have already received the first shot. Some people are still hesitating "Delta is here, will the vaccine be useless?" I can tell you that if the second shot is not vaccinated, "Delta" is really useless. So get the vaccine quickly, get the second shot soon after the first shot.
Someone asked whether it is necessary to boost vaccination. This is still under study. At present, there is not enough evidence to support the need for boost vaccination of the "Delta" variant. I should also remind everyone that the booster vaccination is also carried out on the basis of the vaccination. If the vaccination has not been taken, how can the booster vaccination be used?

In addition, personal protection is still important. We will continue to promote vaccination for a long time in the future, and we call on everyone to maintain personal hygiene and continue to implement public epidemic prevention measures.


According to the National Health Commission, as of June 26, 2021, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have reported a total of 1.16523 million doses of the new crown vaccine.
Shanghai's new crown vaccination work is also in full swing. The new crown vaccination rate for people over 18 years old in Changning, Huangpu, Xuhui, Putuo, Jinshan, Songjiang, Chongming and other districts has reached 77.6%.
During the interview, Dad Zhang also repeatedly emphasized
The importance of vaccination
As long as "Miao Miao Miao" does not stop
At the same time do personal protection
When dealing with "delta"
So that everything is under control~

zhttps://new.qq.com/omn/20210628/20210628A0143500.html

 

[sharon sanders]

EFFECTIVENESS IN PREVENTING SYMPTOMATIC COVID FALLS TO 64%

Israel confirms vaccine less effective against Delta variant, eyes third dose

PM Bennett instructs Health Ministry to promote medical studies into long-term efficacy of Pfizer vaccine to provide decision-makers with ‘vital information’ on booster shots

By TOI STAFF5 July 2021, 8:12 pm

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz attend a press conference at a Maccabi vaccination center in Holon on June 29, 2021.

Israel’s Health Ministry released data on Monday showing that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine appears to largely prevent hospitalization and serious cases, but is significantly less effective against preventing the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

According to the ministry, the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 has dropped by some 30 percent to 64%, given the spread of the Delta variant. The data shows that during May, when the strain was less prevalent, the vaccine was 94.3% effective.

The Delta variant, which is believed to be twice as contagious as the original strain of COVID-19, is thought to be responsible for 90% of new cases in Israel over the past two weeks.

more...

zhttps://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-confirms-vaccine-less-effective-against-delta-variant-eyes-third-dose/