Arrival of South African coronavirus strain in NI ‘inevitable’: Expert insists vaccines ‘will work’

Professor of molecular virology at Queen’s University, Belfast, Ultan Power made the comments following a warning from Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride that it is inevitable the mutant strain will reach Northern Ireland.

The new strain has been discovered in parts of England, prompting a massive door-to-door testing programme to try and keep it contained.

Professor Power said that while he agreed with Dr McBride’s warning that it will reach Northern Ireland at some stage, he said existing vaccines would help prevent “serious disease” despite diminished effectiveness against the South African variant of coronavirus.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, the virus expert said: “The concern with this [strain] is that it diminishes, ever so slightly, the efficacy of the vaccine.

“The evidence we have so far from the Astra Zeneca data, the Johnson and Johnson clinical trials that were done in South Africa, the evidence indicates that the antibodies that are induced by the vaccine are not as effective against the South African strain. This is why we would be worried about that being introduced to Northern Ireland.”

He continued: “It is already in England. There are over 100 cases in England already.

“The Chief Medical Officer is saying it’s inevitable it’ll come to Northern Ireland. I think he is probably right.”

The Queen’s professor insisted that the new strains shouldn’t present too much of a threat to the vaccination efforts.

“The evidence so far indicates that the vaccines will work, although they will be diminished against the South African strain,” he said. “They will induce immunity and protection against serious disease from that strain. This is the evidence we have so far. As you know with influenza, we replace the vaccine every year. There’s a new vaccine chosen and new strains are included in the vaccine every year, so this is not unprecedented to have a situation where a virus is evolving and we’re playing catch up, as it were, to ensure that we’re properly covering it.”

He continued: “I’m aware that companies like Moderna and Pfizer are already working on the variant strains and producing, or developing, vaccines for these new strains. These are likely to happen in the next few months or so.

“The people who have already a vaccine, the vaccine will already be effective. The level of protection will be slightly diminished but it will prevent severe disease, even with the South African and the Kent strains.”