Remember all those Twitter armchair analysts who whined about Jeffrey Gundlach's recent speculation about the effectiveness of the looming US (and international) vaccine rollout for not being rooted in "the science"? Even though Gundlach was clearly sharing what was clearly speculation about the prospects for the rollout (within the framework of his investing outlook, or at least that's what it sounded like) his comments about the pace at which SARS-CoV-2 "mutates" seemed to evoke particular scorn.
Some claimed that Gundlach's speculation about the long-term effectiveness of the first generation of coronavirus vaccines was based entirely on fiction, and asserted that there's simply no logical reason to question the notion that the mRNA jabs will be 100% effective (or rather, 95% effective, at least purportedly for Pfizer's and Moderna's models) and completely safe.
Well, in what has become one of the biggest COVID-19-related headlines of the day, UK Health Secretary Matthew Hancock revealed on Monday during an update before Parliament that new evidence of a new strain of the virus that's purportedly spreading more efficiently than earlier known strains.
Hancock insisted that there's no evidence the vaccine is more deadly, or that the newly introduced vaccines will be less effective at combating infection, though it's hard not to notice that the findings echo similar comments from government scientists in South Australia, who warned of evidence of more infectious and possibly more deadly mutations as justification to order a brief but extremely severe circuit-breaker lockdown last month.
At least 60 different local authorities had documented cases of the new strain and its role in "exponential rises" in coronavirus infections across London, Kent, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire.
Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter that the news was certainly concerning, and that she would be considering whether "additional precautions are necessary".
The BBC added that most viruses mutate, and that the overwhelming majority of mutations are harmless and have little discernible impact on symptoms and how effective the virus is at attacking its host. However, mutations could also make it more difficult for human bodies to identify and fight the virus, necessitating the need for annual vaccinations like the flu shot. In a piece of "analysis" for the BBC, James Gallagher said there is a "simple rule" for understanding mutations or "new variants" as the BBC calls them: "Ask whether the behavior of the virus has changed."
But Brits shouldn't fret: Secretary Hancock, who, like his boss, survived a bout of COVID-19 earlier this year, believes that vaccines will "still be effective" against these mutated forms of the virus.
And that's based on...what, exactly? His 'expert opinion'?
A NEW strain of coronavirus which spreads even quicker has been identified in large parts of England, Matt Hancock revealed today - as he plunged millions more Brits into Tier 3.
The Health Secretary told MPs that a new "variant" has been discovered in up to 60 places across the UK - and the World Health Organisation has been informed.
This means that people can only see friends and family they don't live with or are in a support bubble with in outdoor public places - but shops, gyms and schools will remain open.
And on the new strain, he revealed: "We have identified a new variant of coronavirus which may be associated with the faster spread in South East England.
"It is growing faster than existing variants, with over 1,000 cases.
He told the Commons: "Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants."
There are over 60 areas affected, which is "growing rapidly" and similar strains have been identified in other countries, he said.
He added: "We've seen very sharp exponential rises of the virus across London, Kent parts of Essex and Hertfordshire.
"We must take fast and decisive action."
London will be placed into England’s toughest tier of coronavirus restrictions from midnight on Wednesday morning following a rapid rise in Covid-19 infection rates.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Monday confirmed the move as he addressed lawmakers in the House of Commons. He said British authorities had identified a new variant of the virus that may be linked with the faster spread of cases in southeast England.
“Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants,” Hancock said, adding that, so far, 1,000 cases of the new variant had been identified in England.
No comments:
Post a Comment