Pfizer/BioNTech say vaccine is effective against UK and South Africa Covid-19 variants

In a recent study, The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine appeared to only lose a small amount of its effectiveness against a virus engineered to replicate some of the mutations found in the recently-reported South African coronavirus variant

The vaccine recorded a high level of effectiveness against the so-called 'UK variant'. File Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers Pfizer/ BioNTech have said that their product is effective against coronavirus variants first reported in South Africa and the UK.

In a statement, the companies said the new variants were “unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine."