US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant: What To Know

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  • Thread starter Tom.G
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In summary, a new variant of COVID-19, known as R.1, has emerged and is being closely monitored. This variant has important spike amino acid changes that could potentially evade current vaccinations, but so far it has not been classified as a variant of concern. The CDC has released an article discussing R.1 and its potential impact on vaccination efficacy, but it appears that current vaccines are still effective against it. This variant has not yet become dominant like the alpha or delta variants.
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Forbes BTW seems to actively support COVID vaccine use and efficacy. Your article tries to explain the important spike amino acid changes in the spike protein since December 2019. Mutations if you like, and the degree to which they get past vaccinations.

The whole idea is that someday one of the beasties will truly evade the current vaccine team: J&J, Sputnik V, Pfizer, Moderna, etc. COVID diversity is increasing:

This tangled mess shows what is meant by diversity - the family tree. It takes special software to make sense of the data behind the graphic. Nextstrain has links to some of that.

https://nextstrain.org/ncov/open/globalR.1 from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7017e2.htm

The MMRW article is primarily about a new variant R.1 in the context of vaccination efficacy for new COVID viruses.

R.1 not classified as a VOC - variant of concern. Why? The highest level of occurrence is really low, compared to alpha or delta. Vaccines meant for other COVID flavors worked well against R.1

Given the fact that it emerged at about the time the delta variant became a dominant VOC, R.1 - so far - has not taken off in any of the susceptible populations.
 
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FAQ: US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant: What To Know

What is the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant?

The US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant is a new strain of the COVID-19 virus that was first identified in the United States and Japan. It contains certain mutations in its genetic code that make it different from the original strain of the virus.

How is the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant different from other strains?

The US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant has several mutations that are different from the original strain of the virus. These mutations may make it more transmissible and potentially more resistant to certain treatments or vaccines.

Is the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant more dangerous?

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant is more dangerous than other strains of the virus. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential impacts of this variant.

How is the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant being monitored?

Scientists and health officials are closely monitoring the spread of the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant through genetic sequencing of positive COVID-19 cases. This allows them to track the prevalence of the variant and take necessary measures to prevent its spread.

Are current vaccines effective against the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant?

There is currently no evidence to suggest that current vaccines are ineffective against the US-Japan COVID R.1 Variant. However, as with any new variant, ongoing research and surveillance is necessary to fully understand its impact on vaccine effectiveness.

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