Lambda Variant Can Evade Antibodies Generated In Vaccinated People, Study Finds

The highly contagious Lambda variant, first detected in Peru last year and currently circulating in 30 countries, can evade vaccinated people’s antibodies, a new study has found.

A study conducted by scientists in Chile has determined that changes in Lambda’s spike protein can boost infection and neutralize antibodies, a finding that is similar to that of the Delta variant.

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the Lambda as a “variant of interest.”

While the variant may be resistant to vaccines, experts believe, the current COVID-19 vaccines available still have “a huge response.”

Researchers have constantly argued that the best response to any variant is vaccination, as mutations happen when there are more cases. Higher vaccination rates will greatly reduce the number of cases globally.

Lambda variant is one of the recently emerging highly contagious variants that is concerning health experts. 

Last month, Pfizer/BioNTech released its findings that a booster shot can “strongly” increase protection against the Delta variant of the coronavirus compared to its standard two-shot regime.

Pfizer has also noted that it will submit data on a third dose to the FDA sometime during August.

According to recent reports, the Delta variant has become more contagious than health experts had previously believed. 

Experts are also predicting that new variants will continue evolving and will remain unpredictable.