Sin Chew Daily

When the vaccines by Pfizer, Moderna and other major pharmaceutical manufacturers are receiving FDA green light for emergency use, and that it appears that humans have finally got the upper hand against the virus, we are told that there is a new coronavirus strain discovered in the UK called B.1.1.7. The discovery has since triggered a major panic in Europe, with over 40 countries worldwide now having announced air ban against the UK while residents in London are fleeing the city en masse.

By December, the mutant variant first discovered in Kent in mid-September, has numbered almost 60% of all new infections. Although there have been a great deal of new strains emerging during the past one year, none has been as infective as B.1.1.7 because it multiplies very rapidly within the human body, and the high concentration of virus in the body makes it much easier to spread from an individual to another, with an infection rate 70% faster.

Experts begin to worry that vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna may not be effective against B.1.1.7. We can only judge their efficacy when vaccinated people are infected by this new variant. What if these vaccines are proven ineffective against the new strain? Does it mean the humanity gets to face a second wave of catastrophe?

It has taken the coronavirus less than ten months from its discovery to the mutation to B.1.1.7. There's no way we can stop the virus from spreading now. All that we can do is to control its spread and extinguish it as soon as possible so as to prevent the virus from mutating into more dangerous strains as it propagates on this planet. Otherwise, we will not see an end to human' war against the virus.

On the positive side, for the past one year or so, at least the entire world has grown increasingly alert of this pandemic. More than 40 nations have adopted the emergency measures stop all transportation links with the UK within short 48 hours.

Reassuringly, chief advisor to US Operation Warp Speed vaccine program Moncef Slaoui has been optimistic the menace of the new coronavirus variant. He believes the B.1.1.7 strain may not resist the existing vaccines now available in the market, meaning the vaccines are effective against the mutant strain.

Although we have fallen far behind our neighbor Singapore in acquiring the coronavirus vaccines, at least the government has pledged to spend RM2.05 billion to purchase vaccine doses enough for 83% of our population.

Yesterday, PM Muhyiddin Yassin witnessed the signing ceremony on the purchase of AstraZenca vaccine, and has said he will take the lead in receiving the vaccination.

Besides AstraZenca, vaccines purchased from Pfizer and COVAC will also arrive here in batches after next February.

In addition, the government is also negotiating purchase deals with China's Sinovac and Cansino, as well as Russia's Gamaleya.

Anyway,we must not treat the vaccines as cure-all against the virus, as they are only around 90% effective. Moreover, given the quantity of purchase, we may have to wait until the last quarter of next year for all Malaysians to be vaccinated.

So, strict compliance with the SOPs is our only bet to stay safe.