Stay informed about the types of Covid-19 variants and their effects on the body. Meri Sehat provides insights into the evolving landscape of the pandemic.

The Types Of Covid-19 Variants And The Effects They Have On Your Body

Covid-19 ruled our lives for some years and we lived through history. It was a topic in medical schools that students easily omitted not knowing that it would change everything around us so drastically… Here’s a short guide to the various Covid-19 variants currently present around the world.

Overview

The year 2020 started with a blast. We all had our new year&rsquo;s resolutions, ready to kickstart a new year with new hopes. It all came crashing down when we heard about the &lsquo;bat virus&rsquo; in China. People went from wearing masks in the operation theatres only to doing so 24/7 even in their houses. Everything shut down, Europeans and North Americans stocked up on toilet paper whereas the rest of the world struggled financially to somehow make ends meet, especially daily wage earners.&nbsp;

All of this caused by a single microorganism, the Coronavirus-19. We&rsquo;ve come a long way since then, with multiple vaccines and their boosters providing some much-needed added protection to our immune system. But since then, this virus too has and continues to evolve, coming up with newer and newer varients from time to time.&nbsp;

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Notable Variants

Here are some of the most notable variants and what is known about them:

<ul>
	<li>Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7): This variant was first identified in the United Kingdom and has since become widespread around the world. It has been shown to spread more easily and quickly than other variants and has been linked to increased severity of illness. Some research has also suggested that the Alpha variant may reduce the efficacy of certain Covid-19 vaccines, though the exact extent of this impact is still being studied. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Beta Variant (B.1.351): This variant was first identified in South Africa and has since spread to other countries. It has been associated with reduced efficacy of certain Covid-19 vaccines and may be more resistant to immune response generated by previous Covid-19 infections. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Gamma Variant (P.1): This variant was first identified in Brazil and has since been detected in other countries. It has been shown to be more transmissible and may cause more severe illness than other variants. Some research has also suggested that the Gamma variant may reduce the efficacy of certain Covid-19 vaccines. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Delta Variant (B.1.617.2): This variant was first identified in India and has since become widespread around the world. Like the Alpha and Gamma variants, it has been shown to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, and may cause more severe illness. Some research has also suggested that the Delta variant may reduce the efficacy of certain Covid-19 vaccines. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529): The omicron variant is of particular concern due to its high number of mutations, which may make it more tranmissble and potentially more resistant to vaccines and previous immunity. Some mutations of the Omicron variant were found to affect the spike protein of the virus. This is the part that allows its entrance in the human cells. However, it is also believed that the variant may cause less severe illnesses compared to the earlier variants.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Vaccines

There are currently several COVID-19 vaccines available on the market, including:

<ul>
	<li>Pfizer-BioNTech: This vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to help the body produce a protein that triggers an immune response against the virus. It requires two doses, given 21 days apart. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has shown to be approximately 95% effective in preventing COVID-19. 
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	<li>Moderna: This vaccine also uses mRNA technology and requires two doses, given 28 days apart. The Moderna vaccine has shown to be approximately 94.1% effective in preventing COVID-19. 
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	<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson: This vaccine uses a modified virus to deliver genetic material from the COVID-19 virus to the body, triggering an immune response. It requires a single dose. The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine has shown to be approximately 72% effective in preventing COVID-19. 
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	<li>AstraZeneca: This vaccine uses a weakened version of a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees to deliver genetic material from the COVID-19 virus to the body. It requires two doses, given 4-12 weeks apart. The AstraZeneca vaccine has shown to be approximately 70% effective in preventing COVID-19. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Sinovac: This vaccine uses inactivated virus particles to trigger an immune response against COVID-19. It requires two doses, given 2-4 weeks apart. The Sinovac vaccine has shown to be approximately 50.7% effective in preventing COVID-19. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Conclusion

All of the vaccines mentioned above have undergone extensive clinical trials and have been shown to be safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. However, the efficacy of each vaccine may vary depending on factors such as age, underlying health conditions, and the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population.

In addition to these vaccines, there are also several other COVID-19 vaccines currently in development or undergoing clinical trials, including vaccines from Novavax, Bharat Biotech, and others.

It&#39;s important to note that even if someone is fully vaccinated, there is still a chance they may contract COVID-19. However, vaccines have been shown to be highly effective in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

It&#39;s important for individuals to speak with their healthcare provider about which vaccine may be right for them, as well as to continue following public <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/clarity-in-my-butter-the-health-benefits-of-ghee">health</a> guidelines such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and practicing social distancing.

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