Pfizer and BioNTech said that clinical trial data suggested their Covid-19 jab could be effective against the more contagious B.1.351 mutation, which was initially detected in South Africa.
The vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy in South Africa, where B.1351 was prevalent, the companies said. Only 800 participants were enrolled in the country, however, meaning that the latest findings are still limited.
The study said nine people in South Africa went down with Covid-19, all of whom were in the placebo group. None who had taken the companies’ vaccine were infected. Lab analysis of nine of the infections showed that six of the nine were from the B.1.351 strain.