The more infectious B.1.1.7 variant that has come to dominate coronavirus infection in the UK is evolving further mutations, which scientists say will make existing vaccines less effective at preventing infection.
Public Health England said in a technical paper that researchers have detected 11 UK cases of B.1.1.7 acquiring a mutation called E484K, which is present in the variants fuelling Covid-19 surges in South Africa and Brazil.
The news is worrying scientists, said Julian Tang, clinical virologist at the University of Leicester: “This E484K mutation is already present in the South African 501Y.V2 and Brazilian P1 variants — and is now thought to be the main mutation impacting on vaccine efficacy.”
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