Viruses don’t evolve to get around masks, distancing, or disruption of the virus particle by detergents or disinfectants. Mutation doesn’t defy the laws of physics.

B.1.1.7 is transmitted the same exact way as all the other variants of SARS-CoV-2 so you can reduce exposure risk with the same additive precautions:
-masks
-distancing
-stay home
-avoid gatherings/crowds
-avoid closed spaces/ventilate
-hygiene/disinfection

Even if it turns out that increased shedding IS the means by which B.1.1.7 is more transmissible, that doesn’t change the path forward. Rather than tinkering with vaccine guidance or advocating for pointless travel restrictions, let’s emphasize precautions that we KNOW work.

Now before you say BUT ANGIE, they don’t work! They haven’t worked! No more lockdowns!...

They haven’t worked because people haven’t been doing them. People aren’t staying home. People got together for the holidays. People refuse to wear masks. Etc.

So why do we think that, with widespread non-compliance with guidance, people are suddenly going to rush out for an untested vaccine regimen? It’s likely that not enough people will.

We need to redouble our efforts to encourage risk reduction. We need to get people on board with minimizing their exposure risk. We DON’T need to fearmonger about the unknowns about B.1.1.7 and use that to justify just winging it with something as important as vaccination.

So in conclusion:
-PCR doesn’t replace robust genomic surveillance
-we have a lot to learn about B.1.1.7
-this doesn’t justify new vaccine regimens
-stay home, stay safe, avoid the three Cs, Swiss cheese risk reduction