Epidemiologists have been studying influenza for decades. Their work forms the basis for much of our virus understanding. It also confirms many mutations are minor, although occasionally something like Omicron pops up. We need to understand how viruses mutate and affect vaccines, so we can prepare ourselves for the future however that may turn out.
Two Antigenic Ways in Which Viruses Change
Pfizer explains there are two ways in which influenza viruses mutate and affect our vaccines.
1… Antigenic Drift occurs fairly routinely, as a result of genetic errors slipping in when the virus replicates itself. This is a natural process affecting the composition of antigen molecules triggering immune responses.
2… Antigenic Shift occurs less frequently, but when it does it causes an abrupt, major change in virus antigens. This could result in a new virus sub type, against which we may have less immunity.
However, that latter antigenic process requires the simultaneous presence of two virus strains in a host, before a new ‘novel coronavirus’ can emerge.
How COVID-19 Virus Mutates and Affects Vaccines
Pfizer confirms scientists have also observed similar antigenic drifts occurring with the COVID-19 virus. These cause vaccines to be less effective against new mutations, because their antigen molecules behave differently.
However, the coronavirus causing COVID-19 has not yet undergone a radical antigenic shift producing a new virus type. For this reason we need to keep testing. This is the only way we know to detect a new mutation like Omicron early, and raise our shields high again.
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