The news of the coronavirus vaccines has been circulating all over the world. All the leading countries like the USA and the UK have begun producing vaccines on a large scale and have also begun the beginning legs of its administration. The world has gone manic with almost all of the remaining countries getting in line for their batches of the vaccine, over-ordering, and even getting in line to approve their own for the public.
But in the middle of this pandemonium, the public thinking they would be the first in line for the vaccination have ditched their masks, booked their tickets, and have gone off to catch up on every relative in whichever city, state, or country that may be.
We must all remember that this leeway will allow the virus and the pandemic to take us by surprise and we may all see infection rates and numbers spike yet again.
Recently, two new mutated strains of the virus have been found. The UK saw a new mutation, noted first in September, named ‘D614G’ which is claimed to be around more than 70% more infections, as the studies have shown an unusually large number of genetic changes. The reason for it’s more hostile nature, in layman’s terms, is the protein element found in the virus. The virus has a certain protein element in it, that binds with the protein element that human cells have, and that is the inception of an infection. With the new strain, this protein component of the mutated virus has a spiked reaction and an ability to bind, hence contributing to the increased infection rate.
This strain has been spread to various parts of the world already (thanks to the spiked wanderlust breaking out at the news of the vaccine) and has been found across Europe, Australia, Denmark, and the Netherlands, but experts from WHO say that it is a massive possibility that it has already reached most countries of the world.
An even more aggressive strain called ‘501.V2’ has been found in South Africa, with traits similar to the U.K. strain, but with an even more belligerent infection rate. It is responsible for the second wave of the virus in the country and is said to be causing more rapid growth in the wave and infected numbers and deaths.
Although this mutation causes a rapid spread and infection, there is no evidence that it also causes a more severe reaction, that is, symptoms and fatality.
With that being said, there is also no evidence about whether or not the mutation is going to affect the efficacy and efficiency of the vaccine either. Experts say it’s likely that the mutation would not pose an issue because the likes of a few mutations do not pose an issue.
The moral of the story would be to not jump to conclusions. Although good news and bad news is pouring in, we should not forget that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Even when the vaccines begin to be administered in India, likely, the common folk like you and I wouldn’t be the first to get them. Frontline workers like Doctors, nurses, police, etc. as well as senior citizens and people with chronic illnesses would be the first to get the vaccine. This would take up to the first 6 months of 2021, and experts suggest that it would not be until the beginning of 2022, that we reach a post-pandemic ‘normal’.
So, stay in the 2020 character for a little longer, wear masks, maintain social distancing, avoid crowded places, and be aware.
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