B.1.617 variant devastating India may be dodging vaccine protections: WHO chief scientist

[turbinetree]

By AFP
Published May 08, 2021

A Covid-19 variant spreading in India is more contagious and may be dodging vaccine protections, contributing to the country's explosive outbreak, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said Saturday.

In an interview with AFP, Soumya Swaminathan warned that "the epidemiological features that we see in India today do indicate that it's an extremely rapidly spreading variant".

India on Saturday for the first time registered more than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths in just 24 hours, and more than 400,000 new infections.

https://www.rawstory.com/india-2652926128/

[dalton99a]

1. Based on what scientific evidence?

Last edited Sat May 8, 2021, 07:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Only 3 percent are fully vaccinated

[Shermann]

2. The actual mild statement from the scientist got amped up for the clickbait headline

Thanks for that Raw Story.

[womanofthehills]

3. Two mutations

L452R and E484Q - one of these mutations is concerning but having both together seems to be more worrisome.

[boston bean]

4. I heard on CNN just a couple of hours ago

That the by end of week US will have good news that vaccines will provide some protection from the variant.