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Evidence that B.1.617.2 (India) is a not a fatal variant. No deaths occurred from an outbreak of 15 cases in a UK care home. This group, being frail, has high expected mortality. Vaccination prevents severe disease. Breakthrough infections are mild.
1/4 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/new-concerns-indian-covid-variant-clusters-found-across-england-ongoing-risk-high
1/4 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/new-concerns-indian-covid-variant-clusters-found-across-england-ongoing-risk-high
The residents had received vaccine. Neutralising antibodies from vaccination do not prevent all infections. These are called breakthrough infections.
But at the next level, T cells take care of it. Thus, organ damage (severe illness) if prevented even if it is a variant.
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But at the next level, T cells take care of it. Thus, organ damage (severe illness) if prevented even if it is a variant.
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What really matters is whether the virus causes organ damage or not. Of course if transmission is reduced it is a good thing too. There is lab evidence that the B.1.617 (of India origin) is effectively tackled by AstraZeneca, Pfizer and BBT covaxin vaccines. See thread.
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B.1.617.2 is a sub lineage of B.1.617 after losing one of its mutations called E484Q. It is believed to be ‘growing’ at least as fast as B.1.617. It is natural for variants to replace older ones, as we saw with D614G initially and later with B.1.1.7.
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Thread on recent research on variants of India origin https://twitter.com/RajeevJayadevan/status/1390120207201431555
