Saturday, July 10, 2021

How are COVID-19 (Wuhan Virus) variants classified?

WHO has classified them as Variants of Interest (VOI) and Variants of Concern (VOC).
Here is a list from the WHO site mentioned in this post.

Variants of Interest:




Variants of Concern:



Mayo Clinic seems to think that the vaccines developed for COVD-19 are not so efficient against the mutations observed in the variants. 

Hence there is movement to create booster shots which translates to more business for the vaccine makers. Are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, or the tunnel is bifurcating in all directions?

Variants causing concern in the US (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-variant/faq-20505779) are:

"Alpha. (B.1.1.7). This COVID-19 variant appears to spread more easily and might have an increased risk of hospitalization and death.

Beta (B.1.351). This variant appears to spread more easily. It also reduces the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody medications and the antibodies generated by a previous COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine.

Gamma (P.1). This variant reduces the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody medications and the antibodies generated by a previous COVID-19 infection or a COVID-19 vaccine.

Epsilon (B.1.427). This variant appears to spread more easily. It reduces the effectiveness of antibodies generated by a previous COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine.

Epsilon (B.1.429). This variant appears to spread more easily. It reduces the effectiveness of antibodies generated by a previous COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine.

Delta (B.1.617.2). This variant appears to spread more easily. It might reduce the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody treatments and the antibodies generated by a COVID-19 vaccine.
"

Colombian Variant:
The B.1.621 variant has been reported in 26 different countries and territories since it was first recorded by the World Health Organization, including the U.S.











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