The latest nation to report the B.1.617 variant is the neighbouring Uganda, with Kenyans fearing that variant could get into the country. However, Covaxin, which was approved for emergency use on January 3, while still under clinical trial, has been found to neutralise the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19. The vaccine, which has an efficacy of 78 per cent, is also able to neutralise the UK variant B.1.1.7 that was also detected in Kenya. The researchers from the National Institute of Virology found that the serum (blood fluid) obtained from individuals who had recovered from Covid-19, and Covaxin, were able to neutralise the B.1.617 variant. “The assurance of neutralisation of [the] B.1.617 variant with sera of BBV152 (Covaxin) vaccine and recovered Covid-19 cases sera will provide the much-needed boost to the Covid-19 vaccination programme in India,” the researchers say.

Source: Daily Nation May 03, 2021 05:03 UTC