Pfizer, AstraZeneza Covid-19 vaccines 90 per cent effective against Lambda strain

The world’s most contagious strain of Covid-19 has reached Australia – but there’s one way we can protect ourselves.

Experts are confident current vaccines will be up to 90 per cent effective against Covid-19’s most transmissible strain just days after it was believed to be resistant to the jab.

The Lambda strain has devastated Peru, accounting for 81 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the South American country. Peru has the highest Covid-19 fatality rate in the world.

The vicious mutation has infected more than 30 countries including the UK and Australia. Eight cases have been reported in England – all linked to overseas travellers – and yesterday it was revealed that there was one case in Australia’s hotel quarantine in April.

Long queues of people are seen lining up to get the Covid-19 Vaccine at the Olympic Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Infectious Diseases expert Professor Peter Collingnon told News.com.au real-world data has proved that current vaccines are effective against the new mutation as well as previous iterations of the virus.

“If you look at the Alpha or the Delta strain, both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are 99 per cent effective in stopping you dying and about 90 per cent effective in stopping you from getting seriously ill,” he said.

“The current real-world data shows that these vaccines are just as effective against the new Lambda strain. There has been some conversation around all previous mutations that the vaccine may not be as effective, then it is proven to be so in the real-world data.

“The data about the vaccines not being as effective comes from Chile where they used a lot of the Chinese vaccine. There was already evidence that was not as effective as the other vaccines (AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna).”

He added, for those concerned about the new strain it was a relatively simple fix to alleviate your fears.

“Get vaccinated. Obviously, we have an issue with the supply of vaccines in Australia at the moment. But if you can receive a vaccination, get one,” he said.

“I would say by November the vast majority of adults would be vaccinated. It will also be out of Winter and Spring which is the time when these types of virus’ spread the most.”

His analysis was backed up by research in the US.

Sydney’s lockdown has been extended today. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

A report published by the New York University Grossman School of Medicine found both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective against the new mutation.

“The results suggest that the vaccines in current use will remain protected against the lambda variant and that monoclonal antibody therapy will remain effective,” it said.

“The findings highlight the importance of widespread adoption of vaccination which will protect individuals from disease, decrease virus spread and slow the emergence of novel variants.“

The new mutation is also known as C. 37 and it was first detected in Peru.

Virologists were particularly concerned about this strain due to a spike in a protein and its potential to infect human cells. Much like the highly infectious Delta that has forced Sydney into a three-week lockdown.

Sydneysiders exercising as they prepare for another week of lockdown. Picture: Damian Shaw

What is the Lambda strain?

The Lambda strain has puzzled World Health Organisation (WHO) scientists after it spread to nearly 30 countries in the last four weeks. The mutation was originally discovered in Peru and is related to 81 per cent of the country’s cases since April.

Lambda was last month declared a ‘Variant of Interest’ by the WHO, which noted that it was “associated with substantive rates of community transmission in multiple countries.”

In Australia, the variant was detected in an overseas traveller who had been in NSW hotel quarantine in April, according to national genomics database AusTrakka.

Early research shows it had not spread among the community in Australia.

Lambda has just started to make its way into the community in the UK, which has reported eight cases of the strain to date.

Strict lockdown rules remain in place in Sydney as the city grapples with a Delta outbreak. Picture: Damian Shaw