The vaccine of the British-Swedish concern AstraZeneca has proved effective against new species of COVID-19 – Delta and Kappa, recently discovered in India as per the company. At the same time, the AstraZeneca Vaccine has also another side effect called Guillain-Barre syndrome, as per the researchers.
“The AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) vaccine from COVID-19 is effective against Delta and Kappa variants, which were first discovered in India,” the company said in a statement.
Studies have been conducted at Oxford University on the ability of monoclonal antibodies in the blood of recovered people, as well as those who received the vaccine, to neutralize Delta and Kappa variants.
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Eleven people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine have developed a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome, clinicians in India and England have reported in two separate studies.
In Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system –the network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Delta and Kappa
Variants of Delta and Kappa coronavirus have been reported to be first detected in large numbers in India and differ from previous strains. Now, according to the WHO, the “Indian stamp” Delta is becoming the dominant version of the disease worldwide.
The Indian strain of coronavirus penetrates human cells much easier and faster, it knows how to “mask”. This means that those who have already been ill with the “old” versions of COVID-19 are at risk of getting sick.
Some 22 cases of the Delta Plus variant have been found in India, informed the government on Tuesday.
Delta Plus
India is now faced with the Delta Plus variant that has been formed due to a mutation of the Delta strain or B.1.617.2 variant, which was first found in India and was believed to be the reason for the deadly second wave in the country. As per Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), Delta Plus is now in the ‘variant of interest’ category. Delta Plus variants are currently found in nine countries including the UK, the US, Japan, Russia, India, Portugal, Switzerland, Nepal, and China, the Indian Health Ministry says. Health experts in India have warned that the Delta Plus may trigger a third wave of COVID-19 in the country.
INSACOG is a consortium of 28 labs of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for whole genome sequencing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.