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Shifting Goalposts For Vaccine Cos As Lambda Variant Rears Head

Multiple Vaccines Show Delta Efficacy

 
• By Vibha Ravi

Studies point to Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Bharat Biotech’s vaccines neutralizing the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, even if efficacy is lower compared to the original strain. This follows positive news from other vaccine companies but will the Lambda variant cause a setback?

Coronavirus Variant Emerging/Mutated SARS-CoV-2
The Changing Colors Of SARS-CoV-2 Present A Challenge To Vaccine Makers • Source: Alamy

Global manufacturers developed vaccines in record time when COVID-19 hit but "there’s no rest for the wicked." Even as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc./BioNTech SE and Bharat Biotech added to the chorus of producers saying their vaccines work against the highly contagious Delta variant, another viral iteration termed Lambda has now reared its head.

While it is widely believed that mRNA vaccines can quickly be adapted to counter variants and inactivated virus vaccines are...

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