update 2025-05-23 : Apre - print newspaper , which has yet to be peer - reviewed , by Pfizer has suggested that the variants should still reply to their vaccine . Scientists are alsoremaining confidentthat the South African and the UK variant is unlikely to " wholly negate " COVID vaccinum . Along with the turn out concern ofthe UK COVID-19 variantsweeping across the world , the UK health minister has now said the new South African random variable might become an even heavy problem . Much of the fear centers around whether the South African chance variable might bear on the efficacy of the vaccinum , although this remains unconfirmed for now . Scientists have said there ’s just reason to be very wary of the variant but admonish that we necessitate more evidence before make any quick assumption . So , before you panic , here ’s what you need to have intercourse .

Speaking onBBC Radio 4 ’s Today programon Monday , UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock say : " I ’m incredibly disturbed about the South African variant , and that ’s why we took the action that we did to restrict all flights from South Africa . "

“ This is a very , very significant problem … even more of a problem than the UK new variation , ” he say .

“ My concern is that it seems even more well-situated to transmit than the new stochastic variable we ’ve seen here [ in the UK ] , ” Hancock added , speaking toITV News .

Viruses are always undergoing mutations and variants of SARS - CoV-2 have been around since the kickoff of the pandemic , but health authorities are becoming peculiarly concerned with two variance : one first detected in the UK and another in South Africa . South Africa first announced the detecting of the new variant in three provinces of South Africa on 16 May 2025 . The UKalso detectedtwo cases of the South African variant on 23 December , although it ’s also dealing with another distinct form , first   notice in the UK back in September .   The UK and South Africa are both in the thick ofa surge of COVID-19 cases , many of which are   link up with   the   variants in question .

There are mounting fearsthat both variant may be more transmissible . The World Health Organizationsaid on 31 December : " preliminary study suggest the variant [ in South Africa ] is associated with a higher viral loading , which may suggest possible for increased transmissibility . "

what is more , there has also been some discussion that the South African stochastic variable has to potential to pretend the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine . So far , there ’s no evidence yet that the Covid-19 vaccine O.K. so far wo n’t work against the newfangled strains . However , scientist in the UK have warned that early research bespeak the South African variance contains sure mutation on the computer virus ’ spike protein that are a worry in regards to vaccine efficaciousness .

“ The ‘ South African variance ’ transmit a chromosomal mutation in the spike protein called E484 K , which is not present in the ‘ UK strain ’ . The E484 K mutation has been shown to reduce antibody realisation . As such , it helps the virus SARS - CoV-2 to ring road resistant protection provided by prior contagion or vaccination,”commentedProfessor Francois Balloux , Professor of Computational Systems Biology and Director of the UCL Genetics Institute at University College London .

“ It is not anticipated that this mutation is sufficient for the ‘ South African ’ variant to bypass the protection provide by current vaccines . It ’s possible that new variation will affect the efficacy of the covid vaccines , but we should n’t make that assumption yet about the South African one , ” explicate Professor Balloux .

Despite the very real business organization , scientists have also called for calm when skimming through sensational newspaper headline about the variant . Instead of panic , the best course of action is to waitress for more grounds to come to light and succeed the public health protections in your expanse .

“ A drumbeat of nightmare scenarios about this new var. does nothing but create anxiousness because too little is known and there is nothing we can do about it at the consequence , ” note Professor James Naismith , Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and the University of Oxford .