US Army doctors examine UK’s Covid mutation to determine impact of vaccine

Experts say the coronavirus vaccine will likely be effective against the new strain

Scientists at Walter Reed Army of Institute Research are examining the Covid-19 mutation currently moving through the United Kingdom, and said more should be known on this strain’s reaction to the vaccines in the coming days.

Dr Nelson Michael, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told CNN that researchers still expect coronavirus vaccines, like the ones authorised for emergency use from Pfizer and Moderna, to be effective against the new strain.

"It stands to reason that this mutation isn't a threat, but you never know. We still have to be diligent and continue to look," Dr Michael said.

Scientists at Walter Reed first looked at the new coronavirus mutation on Thursday after British researchers in the UK shared its genetic variation online.

The first step was doing a computer analysis of the mutation.

"The computer analysis will allow us to gauge how much concern we should have," Dr Michael said. "Other teams around the world are doing this analysis, too."

On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new coronavirus restrictions amid the news that a Covid-19 mutation was moving through parts of the country, causing multiple surges.

These restrictions included announcing a new tier 4 lockdown in areas like London, changing holiday plans for residents. But Mr Johnson said there was no evidence the new virus would make the vaccine ineffective.

"There's no evidence to suggest the vaccine will be any less effective against the new variant. Our experts will continue their work to improve our understanding as fast as we can," he said.

The new strain has yet to be detected in the US, but it caused concern among officials who have implored the federal government to shut down flights from the UK.

“Right now, this variant in the UK is getting on a plane and flying to JFK,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on a call with reporters on Sunday.  "And we have done absolutely nothing. And all it takes is one person.”

Six flights come into New York every day from the country, and the federal government has thus far not banned these flights. Mr Cuomo called the lack of response from the federal government “reprehensible” given how the virus spread through New York in the spring from European flights. 

The federal government’s current response contrasts countries including Italy, Germany, Canada, and Israel – which have all barred flights from the UK amid the news of the new Covid-19 strain. In total, more than 40 countries have banned flights from the UK over the news of the mutation. 

US Assistant Secretary of Health Admiral Brett Giroir said the country saw no reason to currently ban flights from the UK based on the current information about the virus mutation.

“I don’t think there should be any reason for alarm right now,” Mr Giroir told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s This Week.  

“Viruses mutate. We’ve seen almost 4,000 different mutations among this virus. There is no indication that the mutation right now that they’re talking about is overcoming England,” he said, adding the mutation accounted for just “20 per cent of cases” in one country.

Mr Goir added that scientists “have not seen a single mutation yet that would make it evade the vaccine.”