Pfizer Study Suggests COVID Vaccine Works Against Different Strains.<br />Pfizer and researchers from <br />the University of Texas Medical Branch <br />in Galveston teamed up for the study.<br />They tested one modification to the spike protein that COVID-19 variants in both the U.K. and South Africa share.<br />This mutation, called N501Y, is thought <br />to make the virus more contagious.<br />As part of the study, blood samples from 20 people who've received the vaccine were analyzed.<br />Antibodies in those blood samples were able to fend off the particular mutation.<br />However, the strain discovered in South Africa has an additional mutation, called E484K, <br />that needs to be tested.<br />It is common for viruses to mutate. <br />Vaccines can be adjusted to remain effective.<br />It was a very reassuring finding that at least this mutation, which was one of the ones people are most concerned about, does not seem to be a problem, Pfizer chief scientific officer Dr. Philip Dormitzer, via Associated Press
