Read on Twitter
Very concerning report - 47 cases of the 501Y.V2 (variant arisen from South Africa) reported in surveillance within the UK. This is the variant with the E484K mutation that has been associated with significant escape from antibodies in the laboratory. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-variants-identified-in-uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-variants-identified-in-uk
More information on the variant here.Using plasma those infected in the 1st wave (with robust antibody responses) >90% showed reduced neutralisation with the variant and 48% showed complete escape. How this translates to vaccine response isn't clear yet. https://twitter.com/AdamJKucharski/status/1351228542143651840?s=20
Antibody neutralisation is only one part of the immune response. T cell adaptive responses are also important, but the early data on reduced neutralisation are concerning. We need to look carefully at vaccine effectiveness against this variant.
This mutation has evolved independently in different parts of the world, and we will continue to see mutations like this, and others, unless we focus on elimination. We can't just count on vaccines - we need to use everything we have in the tool box.
It's clear the virus can adapt. Our strategy needs to adapt with it- otherwise we'll always be firefighting & playing catch up - which will be devastating to our society & economy.
Many of us have been calling for stricter travel restrictions & a focus on elimination to avoid exactly the situation we're in. None of this is or was inevitable.
