Thread by @techreview

The hype around “scariants” is overblown, but we also shouldn’t be too complacent. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t panic about coronavirus variants.

Real-world data out of Qatar suggests that the Pfizer vaccine works quite well, even against B.1.351. Full vaccination offered 75% protection, still “a miracle,” says Andrew Read, a disease ecologist at @PennStateBio.

While scientists testing vaccine efficacy often focus on antibodies, they are only “a very narrow slice” of what the immune response might be, says @drjenndowd. T-cells also help keep infections in check—and there’s data that the vaccines elicit good T-cell responses.

While a vaccine that can block infection is wonderful, the most important factor is keeping people out of the hospital.

Researchers see this as a hopeful sign. The virus may be running out of new ways to adapt to the current environment. scientificamerican.com/article/the-co…

Moderna has already begun testing the efficacy of a booster shot aimed at protecting against two variants. Last week they released the initial results, demonstrating variant-specific boosters can work. investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/…

READ the full story by @cwillyard to learn why you can be cautiously optimistic about these covid variants.
technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/102…

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