iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
In the first two days after the torrential rain on Tuesday, around 1,244 flights were cancelled
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Covid: Pfizer vaccine works against Indian variant, says 'confident' BioNTech founder
Berlin - The Indian variant has mutations that we have already tested for and which our vaccine works against,” said Sahin.
BioNTech co-founder Ugur Sahin on Wednesday voiced confidence that the vaccine that his company jointly developed with Pfizer works against the Indian variant of the coronavirus.
“We are still testing the Indian variant, but the Indian variant has mutations that we have already tested for and which our vaccine works against, so I am confident,” said Sahin.
“The vaccine is cleverly built and I’m convinced the bulwark will hold. And if we have to strengthen the bulwark again, then we will do it, that I’m not worried about,” he added.
Read: India's double mutant variant found in 17 countries, says WHO
India is facing surging new cases and deaths in the pandemic, and fears are rising that the variant could be contributing to the unfolding catastrophe.
The World Health Organization has said the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19 first found in India had as of Tuesday been detected in “at least 17 countries”.
The health agency recently listed B.1.617 — which counts several sub-lineages with slightly different mutations and characteristics — as a “variant of interest”.
But so far it has stopped short of declaring it a “variant of concern”, which would have indicated that it is more dangerous than the original version of the virus by, for instance, being more transmissible, deadly or able to dodge vaccine protections.
The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine was the first to win authorisation in the West, and has since been deployed in dozens of countries worldwide.
India fights Covid-19: Medical supplies reach from across the world
Giving an update of the authorisation process in China, Sahin said approval was “very possible in July”.
“We are almost through with all questions,” he said.
Photo: Reuters
More news from
There has been fear that decades of enmity between the two could spill over into all-out war
The leading hypermarket chain has implemented additional measures to ensure sufficient stock availability for shoppers
Thousands of personnel deployed to clear accumulated water, clogged drains, and fallen trees
Areas such as Abu Shagara, Al Qasimiya, King Faisal Road, Al Mahatta, and Majaz have been particularly affected
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its call on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities
This step aims bring relief to thousands of residents in Emaar’s communities who have been badly affected by unprecedented rains
Dressed in all black, the man was seen directing traffic for nearly six hours
