Do I still get the Covid-19 vaccine with coronavirus variants here? Dr Wen weighs

Two other variants of potential concern are those that were first identified in South Africa and Brazil, named B.1.351 and P.1 respectively. These two can also be more contagious. Additionally, some studies have shown that these variants could make re-infection more possible – meaning that if someone had another strain of Covid-19 before, they could still be infected with those strains. Additionally, mutations in the variants may make them less susceptible to developed vaccines – although it’s important to note that current vaccines still work against them, although perhaps a little less effectively.

CNN: Isn’t that worrying? What if the vaccines no longer work against the newer variants?

Magnifying glass: It is certainly something that needs to be studied and followed. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being researched to ensure that they are still effective against emerging variants. The companies have also said they are looking for booster shots that specifically target variants.

We may need reminders. Or maybe the Covid-19 vaccine will end up being like a flu vaccine, where every year we have to get a vaccination that targets new variants that can develop over time.

CNN: So shouldn’t we just wait until there’s a booster and just take this hit?

Magnifying glass: No, and here’s why. First, we don’t know when these recalls might come out. It can take months, and the booster shots may require you to have completed the series of vaccines first. If you can get the vaccine now, you need to do it to protect yourself. Remember that the vaccines we have are always effective against the variants.

Second, we may continue to have to catch up with new changes. These RNA viruses mutate a lot. The more they replicate, the more they mutate. This means that the more infection there is in a community, the more likely the virus circulating in that community is to acquire mutations, and new variants may appear. Vaccines may need to continually evolve to keep up with variants, which means, again, we may need to receive regular boosters.

Third, since variations appear when there is a strong community spread, it is really important to try to reduce the level of transmission. Vaccination is a key part of our plan to achieve this, as are masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowded indoor gatherings and other public health measures. The arrival of variants should mean that we are stepping up immunizations even further – and that everyone who is eligible and able to get vaccinated should do so.

CNN: What about new vaccines in development – could they be more effective against the variants?

Magnifying glass: We do not know. This is why it is difficult to compare the effectiveness of vaccines face to face. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were developed and tested before these more worrying variants became dominant. Johnson & Johnson and Novavax were subsequently tested, including at some sites with these variants already in circulation.

We may get more research over time on the specific effectiveness of vaccines against each variant, although I would like to draw our attention to the importance of vaccine trials: the very real risk of serious illness and hospitalization. This is ultimately what makes Covid-19 such a serious disease. If vaccines can reduce serious illnesses to the point of preventing people who get vaccinated from becoming so sick that they are hospitalized, that’s what we really want.

CNN: What if I’ve had coronavirus before – should I still get the vaccine? Does the strain I suffered matter when I was infected?

Magnifying glass: Yes. Especially now that it looks like reinfection can occur with the variants, it is even more important for those who have previously had coronavirus to be vaccinated as well.

CNN: With the arrival of more contagious strains, are there any extra precautions we should be taking besides getting vaccinated when we can?

Magnifying glass: The good news about emerging strains is that they always spread in the same way, through the respiratory tract, mainly through close contact and also through aerosol transmission. (While surface transmission is also possible, it’s probably a lesser contributor than these other methods.) This means the same precautions you took to prevent Covid-19 still apply with the newer variants.

Here is the problem. Normal strains of Covid-19 are already quite contagious, but newer strains are even more contagious. This means that activities that we thought were low risk are now more dangerous. We need to take even more steps to protect ourselves.

An N95 or KN95 can be useful if you’re going to be in particularly close spaces where you can’t physically get away from it, although these masks are rare and can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. You should be extra careful to avoid being indoors with other people and, if you must, to maintain physical distance and try to be only in well ventilated spaces.

The arrival of the most contagious variants means we need to double the public health measures that we know are effective in reducing the transmission of Covid-19. The race for vaccination is also crucial. The best tool we have for slowing the development of multiple variants is to slow the spread of the virus. So please get us vaccinated when it is our turn, and let’s stay safe – for you and for those around you.