LONDON – Britain’s health minister Sajid Javid said that Covid-19 vaccines might be less effective against a newly identified variant of the coronavirus.
“What we do know is there’s a significant number of mutations, perhaps double the number of mutations that we have seen in the Delta variant,” Javid told broadcasters.
“And that would suggest that it may well be more transmissible and the current vaccines that we have may well be less effective.”
Six African countries will be added to England’s travel “red list” after the UK Health Security Agency flagged concern over a new coronavirus variant, Javid added.
“UKHSA is investigating a new variant. More data is needed but we’re taking precautions now,” Javid said in a tweet according to Reuters.
“From noon tomorrow six African countries will be added to the red list, flights will be temporarily banned, and UK travelers must quarantine.”
