Good and bad news about the Novavax protein subunit vaccine. 90% efficacy in the UK, but only ~50% in South Africa, largely because of the B.1.351 variant. Hopeful news too: Novavax is already developing a booster/reformulation targeting the variant. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/health/covid-vaccine-novavax-south-africa.html

What does this mean for us? Well, the B.1.351 variant has been detected in the US, as has the P.1 variant originally found in Brazil (no data on that). The B.1.1.7 variant originally found in the UK is also here. Good news first: looks like Novavax is protective against that one.

But this is worrisome with regards to B.1.351. However, we CAN get ahead of this. Right now B.1.351 isn't prevalent here...yet. That's why it's crucial to emphasize exposure reduction before it becomes more prevalent.

Keep vaccinating...that offers protection against the variants that are currently circulating. Reduce transmission...that can help keep B.1.351 and P.1 from gaining a foothold. And this raises the stakes for maintaining precautions even after being vaccinated.

Remember, SARS-CoV-2 transmission is driven in large part by superspreading. With more restrictions in place to limit opportunities for superspreading, we can cut transmission of the variants already here, and keep numbers low for worrisome variants like B.1.351.

But given that Novavax, Pfizer, and Moderna all target the same antigen (spike protein from the "old" variants), they are all likely to be less effective against B.1.351 and maybe P.1 too. So even when you get vaccinated, precautions need to stay in place.

If community transmission is high (it is) and variants that can partially escape are here (they are), that means people who are vaccinated may still be infected with them, they may still develop symptomatic disease, and they may still spread to others. So stay vigilant.

But we can do something! Apply as many as possible, whenever possible:
-Stay home if you can
-Avoid gatherings outside your household
-Avoid enclosed spaces
-Wear a mask
-Distance
-Ventilate if you can
-Wash hands
-Disinfect high-touch surfaces
-Get vaccinated once available!

Oh yeah, and governors:

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO OPEN INDOOR DINING!