According to Marco Antonio Stephano, professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at USP and specialist in vaccine development, within three weeks it will be possible to define whether the Ômicron variant of the coronavirus escapes the protection of vaccines.
The new strain worries authorities around the world due to its potential to be more transmissible than the previous ones, as it has a greater number of mutations.
“We have to wait 2-3 weeks to know if the vaccines are effective [contra a variante], the information is being passed on based on computer simulation, no laboratory tests have been carried out”, he stated.
The specialist reinforced that “due to the number of mutations, there is fear that the immunizing agents will not work, but the vaccine is not just an antibody, we have cellular responses that are more effective as well.”
In the case of Ômicron showing resistance, it would be “very easy” to adapt existing immunizing formulas, according to Marco Antonio.
“The technology is available, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Butantan, in 3 months they would have a new vaccine, if it is verified that it does not work, if it is as pathogenic as the first ones, in 3 months new vaccines can be made”, he said.
The researcher also reinforced that the coronavirus will still be in circulation for a long time: “We will have to live with it until we reach 80 or 90% of the world population fully immunized, and it is possible to do as happened with smallpox and now walks with the polio.”
Reference: CNN Brasil
