20% effective to new SA strain, 90% to current strain in SL

Oxford–astrazeneca Covishield vaccine, that had already been imported is 20% effective to the South African (SA) strain of COVID-19 and 90% effective to the current strain in the country, Chairman of the National Research Council (NRC), Prof. Hemantha Dodampahala said.

He told the Daily Mirror that all complications due to the virus will be prevented in as high as 70 to 90% of patients who developed immunity after two doses of vaccine.

The Chadox1 ncov vaccine was manufactured by the research arm of Oxford University in the UK.

“The people who were inoculated with this vaccine had developed anti- immunity against COVID-19 virus protein. As a result, when the virus enter an immunised person, it perishes automatically. So the patient will not suffer from illnesses or complications in the respiratory system,” he said.

“But it is leant that this vaccine on top of all other vaccines such as Pfizer/ Biontech and other leading vaccines, is also less effective to the South African strain of Covid-19.however, the Chadox1 ncov vaccine responded poorly to the new strain, therefore it is not being used in those countries and the usage is also abandoned.but at the moment there is no apparent reason for us to get excited, because the new strain has not been reported in Sri Lanka as yet,” the Professor said.

“We have to monitor the people who are coming from overseas, especially from Europe, UK, South Africa and other countries. They need to be checked and quarantined if they are infected or have developed symptoms of the new strain. That is the only way that we can prevent the virus spreading in our country,” he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)