By Kaya 959 News
Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande says scientists have established that people infected with the 501Y.V2 variant have protection from previous and current COVID-19 variants.
Nzimande says this is because the variant generates immune responses that neutralise itself and other SARS leniencies.
The minister, along with Health minister Zweli Mkhize, delivered the latest scientific findings on the 501Y.V2 variant during a virtual briefing on Wednesday.
501Y.V2 variant generates immune responses
The research was done by the genomics team, led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research, Innovation, and Sequencing Platform.
Scientists found the 501Y.V2 variant is more transmissible but does not cause more severe forms of COVID-19
“The 501Y.V2 variant is able to generate immune responses, we have now found out through our scientists,” he said.
Vaccine implications
Health officials said “blood antibodies from people infected with the new variant were able to neutralise not just that variant, but also the original variant, and the variant first identified in Brazil”.
The latest discoveries about the variant could help with vaccine development.
“These findings have significant implications for vaccine design and suggest that vaccines, that are modified to contain the 501Y.V2 spike, are likely to provide protection against multiple variants. Vaccine developers are already making and testing such second-generation antibodies,” the NICD tweeted.
These findings have significant implications for vaccine design & suggest that vaccines, that are modified to contain the 501Y.V2 spike, are likely to provide protection against multiple variants. Vaccine developers are already making & testing such second-generation antibodies
— NICD (@nicd_sa) March 3, 2021
And furthermore, blood antibodies from people infected with the new variant, 501Y.V2, were able to neutralise not just that variant, but also the original variant, and the variant first identified in Brazil.
— NICD (@nicd_sa) March 3, 2021
Nzimande praises genomic research
Nzimande says genomic research has proved to be a powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19.
His department has redirected almost R70-million in funding for 21 COVID-19 research projects.
Minister Nzimande says South Africa needs to put more resources into genomics.
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People infected with 501Y.V2 protected against other COVID-19 variants Tamlyn



