-
Another concern is a mutation that enables the virus to “escape” the vaccines…
Over two million viral samples have been sequenced, and we’ve probably already seen all the mutations that are technically possible. From our observations, we know that vaccine escape will not appear after one or two mutations – it will require an accumulation giving rise to the right combination. We will not go from one day everyone being protected to everyone being vulnerable the next. We will have time to update the vaccines.
Also, while a vaccine-escape variant would indeed be able to infect vaccinated people far more easily, it would not nullify the protection against severe disease and death provided by the vaccine and prior infection.
Thanks for this, this is incredibly reassuring. However, my understanding is that full vaccine escape isn't needed to overwhelm the NHS.
You are reading a single comment by @Stonehedge and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
Stonehedge
I don't get that vibe (that's it's over). What I do get it more people doing things they used to do as if they are normal. But that's because we are able to and we may actually be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We need to remain careful, but we don't need to hide at the moment (sorry, Mick - hope you're able to feel more comfortable soon!).
This is worth a read imho: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/prof-francois-balloux-the-pandemic-has-created-a-market-for-gloom-and-doom
Key points (from my perspective) wrt your comment "How do things look if in the Autumn we are looking at Epsilon (or whatever the next one will be) and the vaccines are only 35% or 40% effective...":
Another concern is a mutation that enables the virus to “escape” the vaccines…
Over two million viral samples have been sequenced, and we’ve probably already seen all the mutations that are technically possible. From our observations, we know that vaccine escape will not appear after one or two mutations – it will require an accumulation giving rise to the right combination. We will not go from one day everyone being protected to everyone being vulnerable the next. We will have time to update the vaccines.
Also, while a vaccine-escape variant would indeed be able to infect vaccinated people far more easily, it would not nullify the protection against severe disease and death provided by the vaccine and prior infection.