Coronavirus: AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines effective against Delta, Kappa variants, shows study

Coronavirus vaccines made by pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Pfizer are effective against Delta and Kappa variants, first discovered in India, reported Reuters, citing a study.

The study conducted by Oxford University was looking into the ability of monoclonal antibodies in the blood of recovered patients and those who have been vaccinated to neutralise the two variants.

Monoclonal antibodies are artificial antibodies that mimic the activity of our immune systems to fight off infections, according to The Indian Express. They are produced through a process involving the extraction of specific antibodies from human blood and then cloning them.

“There is no evidence of widespread escape suggesting that the current generation of vaccines will provide protection against the B.1.617 lineage,” the study said, referring to the Delta and Kappa variants.

In a statement, AstraZeneca said that the results of the study were based on the recent analysis by Public Health England. The analysis by the United Kingdom body conducted last week showed that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were highly effective in preventing hospitalisation in cases of the Delta variant. While two doses of AstraZeneca jab offered 92% protection against hospitalisation, the Pfizer shot is 96% effective.

“The analysis included 14,019 cases of the Delta variant – 166 of whom were hospitalised – between April…

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