The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective against the South Africa variant of COVID-19, researchers have found.
The researchers who developed the jab say it offers only limited protection against mild disease caused by the novel variant E484K.
However, early data also shows that the jab can prospectively protect against more severe disease caused by the mutation.
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A spokesman for AstraZeneca, said: "Early data has shown limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant.
"We do believe our vaccine could protect against severe disease, as neutralising antibody activity is equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated activity against more severe disease, particularly when the dosing interval is optimised to 8-12 weeks."
But with the median age of participant in the study being just 31, researchers have not been able to fully ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalisation given that the 2,000 subjects were predominantly young healthy adults.
Researchers are also investigating other immune responses to the vaccine, including T cell responses, which may have a role in protection against disease.
Oxford University and AstraZeneca say they have started adapting the vaccine against the South Africa variant and that it will be ready for autumn delivery if needed.
The findings - which was first reported by the Financial Times - will be published on Monday.
Speaking about the study on Sky News' Sophie Ridge On Sunday, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "Of course the virus will mutate. The more we vaccinate, the more the virus will attempt to mutate and adapt to survive.
"We have the world's best genomic sequencing ecosystem industry here in the UK, so we're able to sequence the genomes of the mutations rapidly, and then talk to the manufacturers."
He said this "futureproofs our country" in the development of vaccines and is "all part of the government's strategy to protect our nation".
He also said the government expects to reach its vaccine targets. So far, more than 11 million people have been inoculated with a first dose.
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy Doctor David Nabarro told Sky News' Sophie Ridge: "This virus, like every other virus will vary. We're going to see variations which are particularly dangerous emerge from time to time. We know how to deal with this problem.
"The first thing is that we use the precautions that we're using generally with regards to distancing and face-masking. Secondly, we can adapt vaccines, the scientists are good at doing that, and we will do it.
"Just like we do for flu, we'll do for coronavirus. Variations are worrying and we have to be very conscious of them, but we know they're going to come and go on coming and we know the vaccines will have to continue to be modified.
"The really important thing is for leaders around the world to give their support to outfits like the WHO, which is the only kind of organisation that can keep a track of different variants as they emerge and give advice on things like travel."
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Targeted door-to-door tests to track the South Africa variant in England are currently under way, after cases of the variant were identified in people who had no links to travel - suggesting it may be spreading in communities.
It comes after research released on Friday indicated the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is effective at fighting the UK coronavirus variant.
That variant - labelled B117 and discovered at the start of December - was partially blamed for coronavirus cases ballooning to record-high levels and then continuing to rise into the start of 2021, before lockdown was imposed across the country.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMihAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9jb3ZpZC0xOS1veGZvcmQtYXN0cmF6ZW5lY2EtdmFjY2luZS1sZXNzLWVmZmVjdGl2ZS1hZ2FpbnN0LXNvdXRoLWFmcmljYS12YXJpYW50LXJlc2VhcmNoZXJzLWZpbmQtMTIyMTEzNDDSAYgBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NvdmlkLTE5LW94Zm9yZC1hc3RyYXplbmVjYS12YWNjaW5lLWxlc3MtZWZmZWN0aXZlLWFnYWluc3Qtc291dGgtYWZyaWNhLXZhcmlhbnQtcmVzZWFyY2hlcnMtZmluZC0xMjIxMTM0MA?oc=5
2021-02-07 11:14:21Z
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