Pauci: "Pfizer and Other Vaccines Effective Against India-Origin Variant"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), stated that COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States are effective against the variant virus originating from India.

On the 18th (local time), according to The Hill and others, Fauci emphasized at a White House briefing that "early studies show that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are at least partially, and probably quite effectively, preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death."

He added, "This shows another very strong reason why we need to get vaccinated."

It has been reported that about three out of five adults aged 18 and older in the U.S. have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at the White House COVID-19 response team briefing that the previous day was a milestone, with 60% of Americans aged 18 and older having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to CDC statistics, as of the 17th, 59.8% of adults aged 18 and older in the U.S. have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 47.4% have completed their vaccination.

Earlier, the UK health authorities announced on the 16th that current COVID-19 vaccines developed show a 97% preventive effect against the variant virus originating from India.

At that time, Matt Hancock, UK Secretary of State for Health, said, "There have been 1,313 cases of infection with the Indian variant in the UK, but there have been no deaths among those who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine." In the UK, AstraZeneca (AZ), Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines are being administered.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Indian variant virus as a 'variant of concern' on the 10th of this month, noting that it appears to be highly transmissible.