https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/south-carolina-health-officials-detect-first-known-us-covid-cases-of-more-problematic-variant-from-south-africa.html - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/south-carolina-health-officials-detect-first-known-us-covid-cases-of-more-problematic-variant-from-south-africa.html

Stay safe everyone

This is getting very  worry some......

Take care all 😷😉

From another news source.....

Reuters: First known U.S. cases of potent South African COVID-19 variant found in South Carolina.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-south-carolina/first-known-u-s-cases-of-potent-south-african-covid-19-variant-found-in-south-carolina-idUSKBN29X2FK?feedType=mktg&feedName=topNews&WT.mc_id=Partner-Google - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-south-carolina/first-known-u-s-cases-of-potent-south-african-covid-19-variant-found-in-south-carolina-idUSKBN29X2FK?feedType=mktg&feedName=topNews&WT.mc_id=Partner-Google

Novavax vaccine delivers 89% efficacy against COVID-19 in UK—but is less potent in South Africa

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/novavax-vaccine-delivers-89-efficacy-against-covid-19-uk-less-potent-south-africa?utm_campaign=ScienceNow&utm_source=Contractor&utm_medium=Facebook - https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/novavax-vaccine-delivers-89-efficacy-against-covid-19-uk-less-potent-south-africa?utm_campaign=ScienceNow&utm_source=Contractor&utm_medium=Facebook

Almost all the cases that scientists have analyzed there so far were caused by the variant, known as B.1.351. The data also showed that many trial participants were infected with the variant even after they had already had Covid.

[...]

The company said that about one-third of the trial participants in South Africa had previously developed Covid-19 after being infected by the original form of the virus, and that their results showed those previous infections did not protect them against the new variant. 

[...]

... the results were striking enough that the company said it would soon begin testing a new vaccine tailored to protect against the variant from South Africa. “You’re going to have to make new vaccines,” Mr. Erck said.

___

We expected this.  Needing a new vaccine.  I imagine we'll need to be getting them along with our annual flu vax.  Whatever it takes!

https://www.today.com/health/how-many-strains-covid-19-exist-covid-19-variant-guide-t207173" rel="external nofollow noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(61, 101, 148); text-decoration: underline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14px; -
https://www.today.com/health/how-many-strains-covid-19-exist-covid-19-variant-guide-t207173

Early lab research on Pfizer's vaccine indicates that it  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-vaccine-only-slightly-less-effective-against-key-south-african-mutations-study-idUSKBN29W31M" rel="external nofollow noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 80, 60); - only slightly loses effectiveness against the South African variant , and  https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pfizer-covid-vaccine-works-against-virus-variants-new-research-suggests-n1253475" rel="external nofollow noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; outline: 0px !important; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 80, 60); - previous research from the company on the U.K. variant https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-retains-neutralizing-activity-against" rel="external nofollow noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 80, 60); - Moderna said earlier this week that a lab study  showed "no significant impact on neutralizing titers," which correlate to protection provided by a vaccination, against the U.K. strain. The study did find "a six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers" against the South African variant, but the company said the reduced titer levels are still expected to be protective.

Plummer said her Cedars-Sinai team does not anticipate CAL.20C will evade the vaccines, but they're actively investigating to be sure. She also believes most other strains and mutations will respond to the existing vaccines.

"It will become very difficult for SARS-CoV-2 at the rate that it's mutating to evade the vaccine," she said, adding that mRNA vaccines were chosen to fight this pandemic because they're "designed to overcome" mutations. Asked why Moderna and Pfizer would need to develop boosters if this is the case, Plummer said the scientific justification would be "an abundance of precaution."