Vaccine Row: South African Covid 19 Variant Found in the United States
- The Covid-19 strain found in South Africa has also been identified in the United States
- Two of these cases were found in the state of South Carolina, they are not connected to each other
- Health experts are worried about this strain of the virus as it seems it might be more resistant to vaccines
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The South African strain of Covid-19 has also been found in the United States. The virus has killed over 400 000 people in America, the highest death toll in the world.
According to a report by The Guardian the Covid-19 variant that was initially found in South Africa has been identified for the first time in the US. These cases were found in South Carolina. However, these cases do not seem to be connected to each other.
Other variants that were originally found in Brazil and the United Kingdom have also been reported in the US.
Source: Getty Images
The issue with the South African strain of the virus is that it seems to be more resistant to the existing approved vaccines. Producers have now been put under pressure to create more booster shots.
According to IOL, Moderna and Pfizer have said that their vaccines will still work on this strain of the virus.
What's troubling, however, is that the strain that is spreading in the second wave of Covid-19 infections is a lot more contagious.
"In the Americas overall, 14 countries have reported at least one of three coronavirus variants. First detected in Britain, South Africa and Brazil," said the Pan American Health Organization.
In other Covid-19 related news, Briefly.co.za reported that the government discourages the use of Ivermectin against Covid-19. The Department of Health has discouraged the use of Ivermectin for the management of the Covid-19 virus.
Department spokesperson Popo Maga says that this is until the study on the medication's efficacy and safety is concluded. Maga says that the National Essential Medicines List Committee Covid-19 Sub-Committee has considered all the available evidence:
“Currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend Ivermectin for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19."
"Some studies have suggested that Ivermectin may be of benefit of management of COVID-19, however the evidence that is currently available is preliminary and of low quality."
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Source: Briefly News
