BioNTech CEO: "Pfizer Vaccine Effective Against Both UK and South Africa Variants"

"Vaccine Production Possible Within 6 Weeks for Variants"
WHO States "Herd Immunity Unlikely Within This Year"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Ugur Sahin, CEO of German BioNTech, which co-developed the COVID-19 vaccine with Pfizer in the United States, has attracted attention by stating that the Pfizer vaccine is effective against variant viruses from both the United Kingdom and South Africa. Pfizer and BioNTech confidently claim that they can produce new vaccines capable of responding to any variant. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the speed at which new variants are emerging is faster than expected, making it difficult to expect herd immunity within the year, and there is a risk that healthcare systems in various countries could rapidly collapse.

On the 11th (local time), CEO Sahin emphasized in an interview with CNBC, "I am confident that the immune response induced by the Pfizer vaccine is effective against all variant viruses found in the UK and South Africa," adding, "We will be able to confirm more data within a few days." He explained, "Even if the existing vaccine is not effective against new variants that may emerge in the future, we can create and deliver a new vaccine that responds to the variant within six weeks," and "The main advantage of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines is that they can be quickly reconfigured to match viral mutations."

Contrary to CEO Sahin’s confident assertions, the WHO issued warnings about the dangers of variant viruses on the same day. According to the Associated Press, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at a press briefing, "The more the virus spreads, the higher the likelihood of new variants emerging," and "Variant viruses with stronger transmissibility compared to the original virus pose a risk of rapidly collapsing healthcare systems in various countries that are already at their limits."

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan also expressed concern, saying, "The current speed of variants is very fast," and predicted, "Although vaccination is increasing, it will be difficult to achieve a certain level of herd immunity within the year." Considering the limitations in vaccine distribution in underdeveloped countries, general distrust of vaccines, and the continuously rapid emergence of variants, achieving herd immunity is analyzed to be difficult. Dr. Swaminathan added, "Even while vaccinations are ongoing, preventive measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing must continue to be observed."

Meanwhile, global fears over variant viruses continue to grow. According to The Washington Post (WP), variant viruses have spread to 45 countries worldwide so far, and after the UK and South African variants, a third variant has been discovered in Japan. In the United States, health authorities have suggested the possibility of domestic variant emergence, raising concerns that various new variant viruses may appear in the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.