--- title: "Scientists Are Worried Vaccines Won’t Protect Against New COVID Strains" description: "According to several UK expert scientists, there’s a chance that vaccines currently being administered in the country won’t provide sufficient immunity against new strains of the coronavirus emerging in both the UK and South Africa, Reuters reports. The scientists are most concerned about several mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that […]" date: "2021-01-04" modified: "2021-01-04" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-worried-vaccines-wont-protect-against-new-covid-strains" categories: - "Developments" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "coronavirus" - "covid19" - "vaccines" --- # Scientists Are Worried Vaccines Won’t Protect Against New COVID Strains ![According to several UK expert scientists, there's a chance that current vaccines won't provide sufficient immunity against emerging variants.]() *\Image: UW Medicine\* According to several UK experts, there's a chance that vaccines currently being administered in the country won't provide sufficient immunity against new strains of the coronavirus emerging in both the UK and South Africa, [*Reuters* reports](). The scientists are most concerned about several mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that it uses to enter human cells. Such mutations "may make the virus less susceptible to the immune response triggered by the vaccines," as Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told *Reuters*. "The accumulation of more spike mutations in the South African variant are more of a concern and could lead to some escape from immune protection," Warwick University virologist Lawrence Young added. Reports emerged in mid-December of a [UK variant of the coronavirus]() that appeared to be more contagious. Days later, scientists discovered [yet another strain in South Africa](). It's important to note is that there's still no evidence that the vaccines currently being administered aren't able to protect against these new variants. But scientists are concerned — so it'll be a question to keep an eye on, and one that could have far-reaching consequences for the future of COVID. And even if the vaccine isn't effective against the new strains, COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers might be able to make changes to the vaccine to add protection against the emerging variants. Scientists believe such changes could be made in around six weeks, according to *Reuters*. "We are testing whether our vaccine can also neutralize this variant and will soon know more," Ugur Sahin, CEO of COVID-19 manufacturer BioNTech, [told German magazine *Der Spiegel*]() last week. ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()