Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine Effective Against Brazil Variant, Says Study

According to a new study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the coronavirus variant first identified in Brazil.

As per reports, blood serum samples from individuals who had received Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s two doses proved efficient in neutralizing a version of the virus. It must be noted that for the study, the team of researchers at Pfizer, BioNTech as well as the University of Texas Medical Branch genetically engineered the virus for creating versions carrying mutations originally found in the novel coronavirus variant range, including P.1.

The research involved blood samples from 15 people. The blood samples were withdrawn 2 or 4 weeks after the 15 individuals had received the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as part of a clinical trial. It was found by the team that the blood samples were successful in neutralizing the Brazil variant "roughly" as it was able to neutralize an earlier strain of the deadly virus from January 2020.

According to reports, the P.1 variant could be a major cause of rise in coronavirus cases in Brazil. Furthermore, it was found in 42% of samples in a survey carried out in Manaus.

It must be noted that the P.1 variant has mutations similar to the variant first identified in South Africa. The mutations found are believed to be "more contagious" and possibly resulting in evading immunity from vaccines. Nonetheless, the new study suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may still be able to protect people against the virus.