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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has previously developed and manufactured ingredients for a COVID-19 vaccine targeting the highly contagious Delta variant.
The Delta variant: As the coronavirus spreads, its genetic code can be mutated. Versions of the virus with a unique set of mutations are called a new variant or strain.
New varieties are common and usually go away on their own.
But the Delta variant of the coronavirus, however, has taken off across the world since its discovery – it is now responsible for over 90% of new coronavirus cases in the United States.
The challenge: Data suggests that the Delta variant is perhaps twice as transmissible as the original strain, and there is early evidence that it could lead to more severe cases.
Delta variant is now responsible for over 90% of new coronavirus cases in the United States
Current mRNA vaccines still appear to be very effective against severe diseases of the Delta variant, but since they were designed to target the original strain, injections may not be effective. like effective against Delta, which has a number of mutations on the virus spike protein.
This has led some researchers to start suggesting that vaccine makers develop vaccines specifically targeting the Delta variant, as they may be more effective at preventing infection and stemming the spread of the virus.
A targeted vaccine: One of the huge advantages of mRNA vaccines is that they can be easily updated to match new strains, simply by inserting the genetic code for the variant.
And Pfizer is already on the case – the company announced that it has already developed a COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Delta variant.
Vaccines against the new variants could be authorized more quickly.
He also said he made the first batch of mRNA for a clinical trial, which he plans to start in August (if he gets regulatory approval).
It’s too early to say when Pfizer’s vaccine might reach the public, but the FDA said in February that vaccines updated for the new variants could be cleared faster, like the flu shot.
If the variant vaccine enters people’s arms while Delta is still the dominant strain, it could have a huge impact on the spread of the coronavirus.
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