COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Appear Effective Against Multiple Variants

Data from three studies indicate that fully vaccinated patients are able to stave off severe disease from the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants.

Written byLisa Winter

| 2 min read

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As variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge and spread around the globe, experts have been concerned about how they will affect the efficacy of the vaccines that were designed using the original form of the virus. Two studies published yesterday (May 5), one in The Lancet and one as a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine remains highly effective against the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants. Also yesterday, Moderna released a statement indicating that early results from an ongoing study of a booster shot are encouraging with regard to the B.1.351 and P.1 variants as well.

The researchers behind the study in The Lancet examined thousands of cases in Israel from January through April and found that among those who were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech shots, the vaccine was more than 97 percent effective at protecting ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
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Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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