Vaccines Could Drive The Evolution Of More COVID-19 Mutants

[madville]

It is well established and published that vaccines can themselves cause virus mutations, usually more mild mutations, just like a natural immune response can. The good news is that the vaccinated are usually still protected to some degree. Interesting reading below:


"Mutant coronaviruses can make vaccines less effective. At the same time, vaccines can contribute to virus mutations, but this is a slow process that should be manageable. The new coronavirus variants have raised concerns about whether vaccines will remain effective against this disease. So far, the vaccines still seem to work. Although, scientists are keeping a close eye on a variant first seen in South Africa. But the vaccines themselves could drive the evolution of more mutants. However, NPR science correspondent Richard Harris reports, that's not cause for alarm.

RICHARD HARRIS, BYLINE: You may have heard that bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics and, in a worst-case scenario, render the drugs useless. Something similar can also happen with vaccines, though, with less serious consequences. This worry has arisen mostly in the debate over whether to delay a second vaccine shot so more people can get the first shot quickly. Paul Bieniasz, a Howard Hughes investigator at the Rockefeller University, says that gap would leave people with only partial immunity for longer than necessary.

PAUL BIENIASZ: They might serve as sort of a breeding ground for the virus to acquire new mutations.

HARRIS: That's because the virus is always mutating. And if one happens to produce a mutation that makes it less vulnerable to the vaccine, that virus could simply multiply in a vaccinated individual. But even if that happens, that's only one step in the process.



https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965703047/vaccines-could-drive-the-evolution-of-more-covid-19-mutants

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Except, the more people are vaccinated the less opportunity the mutant viruses have to expand.

Get 100% of Americans vaccinated, then see how well Covid progresses.

[viva la]

2. This is why, however, everyone should get the vaccine--

Gives them less room to work in.

[Bleacher Creature]

3. This all assumes a large unvaccinated population.

Otherwise, there's no virus to mutate. Republicans really do ruin everything.

[Hoyt]

4. I pretty much expect boosters or new vaccines on a regular basis.

[Initech]

5. Yeah they've been predicting booster shots since the beginning.

And I will take any shots that are required! Give me!

[Peppertoo]

6. We can deal with this. Coronaviruses evolve slower than flu viruses

We can make boosters.

We probably won’t need them yearly.