LONDON (UK) – Britain will make use of its genomic sequencing capabilities to share with other countries to help quickly identify new variants of the coronavirus in places, where there is less ability to do so, its health ministry said on Tuesday.
Scientists have found the new variants of the coronavirus as alarming, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the prospect of a “vaccine-busting” variant could mean that lockdown measures may have to prevail longer and new travel restrictions are introduced.
Britain said it had conducted more than half the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences submitted to a global database. It said it would launch a New Variant Assessment Platform which could be used for coronavirus variants and also future pandemics.
Health Minister Matt Hancock will say in a speech at Chatham House, according to advance extracts released by the health ministry, “Our New Variant Assessment Platform will help us better understand this virus and how it spreads, and will also boost global capacity to understand coronavirus, so we’re all better prepared for whatever lies ahead,.”
Scientist have also pointed out particular concern that vaccines might not be effective against the variants found in South Africa and Brazil.
Moderna said on Monday it believe its COVID-19 vaccine will guard against the British and South African variants, although a new booster shot aimed at the South Africa variant will be tested after concluding the antibody response could be diminished.
Britain’s health minister and health officials have said they believe the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines being rolled out in the country will be effective against the UK variant.