JawaPos.com – Apart from the Delta variant which was originally found in India, now people are starting to hear about the Kappa variant being circulated. Both are different even though both are found in India. The good news is that the current Covid-19 vaccine can still be effective against it.
Internal Medicine Specialist and Head of the Covid-19 Task Force of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Professor Zubairi Djoerban explained that the Kappa variant is a variant from India that was detected last year, namely B1617.1. While the Delta variant is even newer, namely the B1617.2.
The Kappa variant has mutations in 3 places, namely L452R, E484Q, and P691R. This substitution in L452R causes this virus to be less recognizable by the immune system. The second mutation, E484Q, can cause invasion of the immune system.
Also read: First dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, second Pfizer, increased immunity
“The Kappa variant is contagious in 41 countries including the UK and Australia,” said Zubairi Djoerban to JawaPos.com, Saturday (3/7).
Prof Zubairi explained that the Kappa variant is lighter than the Delta. Indeed, the most serious, he said, is the Delta variant.
Also read: Good News, AstraZeneca Vaccine Can Protect Antibodies for up to 1 Year
From the data above, Kappa actually descends earlier than Delta. Kappa infects quite a number of people in Australia.
“So the one that is more serious and critical is Delta. It’s much more serious than the Kappa one,” said Prof Zubairi Djoerban.
The good news is that the current Covid-19 vaccine can ward off both Kappa and includes the heavier Delta variant. There are at least 2 vaccines that are most effective.
Are the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. AstraZeneca is effective against these two variants up to 92 percent. And, Pfizer is slightly higher 96 percent and effectively counteracts the Delta variant.
“Kappa is lighter than Delta. The worst thing right now is Delta. And it turns out that the vaccine can ward off both, including the more severe Delta virus,” concluded Prof Zubairi
–
Editor: Edy Pramana
Reporter: Marieska Harya Virdhani
– .
