The coronavirus vaccines were launched with two doses that were needed for an individual for it to be effective. The gap between the two vaccines needs to be of a few weeks, after which it is expected to be effective against the current variant going around. But now with the latest threat of the new variant of the novel coronavirus, Bill Gates has said that a third dose of the vaccine needs to be administered for it to be effective against the new variant. The comments by the philanthropist has come amidst the growing concern that the vaccines that are currently available are less effective against the Brazil and the South African versions.
Gates while talking to a leading daily discussed that they need to find out if there is a need for a high coverage of the current vaccine or a third dose has to be given of the existing one. The billionaire also talked about the probability of modifying the current vaccines available. Gates added that all the five companies of the vaccines in the US are looking forward to make a modification and added that people who already have two shots might even need a third shot.
For now Gates is funding some of the studies in South Africa that will help to determine if the vaccines by Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax are effective against the recently discovered more contagious variant of the virus. It was added that out of these, AstraZeneca is currently facing a challenge while the other two Johnson & Johnson and Novavax are a little less effective. However, it was also clarified that these vaccines are still effective and need to be taken as soon as possible.
If the vaccines are not able to eradicate the virus, then in future more shots might become essential. Health experts have said that the current vaccines in the US offer reasonable protection against coronavirus.
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