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Wondering just what is going on with all these different and emerging Covid-19 variants? Here is your quick guide
8 June 2021
| Last updated on 8 June 2021
As coronavirus continues to mutate to form new variants, WHO released a new labelling system for all to use.
A new labelling system using the Greek alphabet was released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Covid-19 variants, to help remove any stigma associated with the countries and the virus.
This way, coronavirus strains will not be identified based on the area or country they were discovered in, such as the UK, India, or South Africa variants. In the past, some viruses were named after the place they were discovered in and has been damaging for that area or country's reputations, such as the early name for Covid-19, 'Wuhan virus', which was named after the city it emerged from.
Another example would be the Ebola virus, which was named after the Ebola river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Under the new Alpha, Beta, and Delta system, strains will be assigned a label in order of which they were designated.
Alpha variant
Listed under 'Alpha' is the Kent variant (B117), which first emerged in the UK in Kent in September 2020.
The Kent variant made up 96 per cent of Covid cases in the country by February 2021, resulting in a third wave across the UK.
How dangerous is the Alpha variant?
The strain was reported to be far more transmissible and between 30 to 70 per cent more lethal than the original virus from China, causing more people to be put in hospitals.
Pictured: Covid-19 health information and advice from the NHS (National Health Service) in England, United Kingdom.
How about the vaccines?
- AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine: Reported to be 70.4% effective against the Kent variant.
- Moderna vaccine: Covid antibodies produced by the Moderna vaccine are reported to be effective against the Alpha strain.
- Pfizer vaccine: Reported to be 89.5% effective against the strain, at least 14 days after an individual received the second dose.
Beta variant
Listed under 'Beta' is the South Africa variant (B1351), which first emerged in the country around October 2020, but was not revealed to the public until December of the same year.
How dangerous is the Beta variant?
According to local health authorities, the strain infected younger people more than past variants. It has since spread to 80 other countries around the world.
The South Africa coronavirus variant contains a mutation called 'E484K', which allows it to spread more quickly than the original strain.
Pictured: Cape Town, South Africa.
How about the vaccines?
Most vaccines offers minimal protection against the Beta strain.
- AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine: Reported to offer protection as low as 10% against the South Africa variant.
- Moderna vaccine: Helps produce active antibodies against Covid, but slightly less effective.
- Pfizer vaccine: Can prevent symptomatic Covid-19 caused by the Beta strain.
Delta variant
Listed under 'Delta' is the India variant, which first appeared in the country in October 2020.
How dangerous is the Delta variant?
It is one of three different 'sub-lineages' of the UK strain and is reported to be contributing to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in India.
This variant is believed to spread more easily than the version initially discovered in the UK.
Public Health England (PHE) announced that the Delta variant may give an increased risk of hospitalisation compared to the Alpha/UK variant.
Pictured: A hospital in Mumbai, India.
How about the vaccines?
The following results came from PHE reports.
- AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine: Can offer up to 60% protection against symptomatic cases of Covid-19.
- Pfizer vaccine: Can offer up to 88% protection against symptomatic cases at least two weeks after the second dose, according to PHE.
PHE said that the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines are 33% effective at least three weeks after the first dose. Thus, it very important to get the second dose once you are ready for it.
Gamma variant
Listed under 'Gamma' is the Brazil variant.
How dangerous is the Gamma variant?
The Gamma strain is not believed to be more deadly, according to the British Heart Foundation. But it does spread more easily than the original Covid-19 strain from China.
Pictured: The first two residents of Rio de Janeiro to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil.
How about the vaccines?
The following results came from the New England Journal of Medicine here and here, and from a study conducted by health researchers.
- AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine: Helps produce antibodies against the strain, but slightly less effective against the Gamma variant.
- Moderna vaccine: Moderna can help produce active antibodies against the Brazil variant, though slightly less effective, too.
- Pfizer vaccine: Slightly less effective against the Gamma variant, but this does not mean the Pfizer is useless against the disease as the vaccine. It offer to produce active antibodies as well.
