Astrazeneca Vaccine Works Against Brazilian Variant – CARPHA Says

The Caribbean Public Health Agency, CARPHA has assured Montserrat and other member states that the Oxford AstaZeneca vaccine is effective against the Brazilian strain of the coronavirus.

In a statement, CARPHA says variants are a natural part of viral infection and replication. 

In this regard, the emergence of variants that cause COVID-19, such as the Brazil, UK and South African   variants, is  normal  and expected.
With regard to the Brazil variant, a recent study conducted by AstraZeneca suggests that the vaccine will work against it. 

The Brazilian regulatory authorities have assessed it and are so far satisfied by the results, so much so, that the government there has since approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in its population and has ordered more than 200 million doses.

CARPHA says it is awaiting the publication of the full study by AstraZeneca to provide more complete information on the  degree  of  efficacy.

Researchers are also working to learn more about the ease of spread and transmission of the variants, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will fully protect against them

CARPHA reports that it continues to monitor current research on vaccines, variants and the modifications being made to current vaccines and their effectiveness as a consequence of  the variants.

The regional organization, of which Montserrat is a member says it is also diligently working with The University of the West Indies, St Augustine on genome sequencing and is monitoring the variants in the Region.

CARPHA says it is assured by the scientific research of the results of reduced disease in countries which have vaccinated large percentages of their populations.