Pfizer vaccine appears to be effective against UK coronavirus variant

The new study found that a lab-made version of the virus – with all the mutations resembling the B.1.1.7 variant – was neutralised by antibodies. File Picture: Chris Jackson/PA

A Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech appears to protect against a coronavirus variant spreading rapidly across the Western Europe and elsewhere.

The results come amid growing fears that the variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, has mutations that may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines designed to protect against Covid-19.