Vaccine Effectiveness Remains the Same Over Time, New Covid-19 Strain Discovered

Yesterday, CDC vaccine advisors were told that the overall effectiveness of Coronavirus vaccines had not dropped yet for most vaccinated Americans. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met yesterday to discuss the eventual need for booster doses of the vaccine but did not vote on the matter. The White House previously said it’s planning to offer booster shots at the end of September but it’s up to the FDA and CDC to decide. So far, data shows that vaccines appear to provide strong protection and boosters are not needed at this time. The committee will meet in the next few weeks to discuss vaccine efficacy data results from August.

Also in Coronavirus news, genetics researchers say they’ve seen a new lineage that carries many of the same characteristics as other strains including Alpha, Beta and Gamma. The variant they’ve seen is called the C.1.2 and popped up across South Africa and seven other countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The aren’t sure whether it’s constellation of mutations will make it more dangerous but it carries changes that have given other variants increased transmissibility and the ability to evade the immune systems responses. It’s too soon for the variant to be designated a variant of interest or concern by the World Health Organization.