Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett says the variant strains of COVID-19 are “very good at establishing an infection” which is why they are more transmissible.
Her comments come after new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Melbourne, with one being a woman who tested positive just days after exiting her 14-day hotel quarantine period.
Discussing concerns about whether the development could mean the incubation period is longer for mutated strains, Ms Bennett said it would be “surprising” if it was the case.
“It’s probably even less likely in a way that they would have a longer incubation period.”
There will be an “ongoing chase” between COVID-19 and getting vaccines up to date with new mutations, according to Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett.
It comes as South Africa suspends its rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine over issues of the efficacy of the jab against the variant coming out of the country.
Professor Bennett said the South African variant is circulating in a high number and has caused a “dip in efficacy” for all vaccines but AstraZeneca in particular.
She told Sky News the immunity coverage is still relatively unknown for most of the vaccines at this point which keeps the possibility of needing boosters still likely.
“We’re not sure how long the immunity lasts anyway even if the virus was stable and the vaccine worked we might need boosters regardless but yes we’ve always been worried we might need a shift in the virus,” she said.
“If it (COVID-19) escapes the vaccine completely it would be a terrible scenario, b
COVID-19 infection is no guarantee of lasting immunity against re-infection 03/02/2021|4min
Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Catherine Bennett says the coronavirus situation in Brazil is a warning being infected with COVID-19 once is no guarantee of immunity, particular with the circulation of mutant variants.
“What we’re seeing in Brazil is a bit of a warning around that same concern that we’re all watching out for anyway, and that is being infected once doesn’t necessarily protect you from being infected again,” she told Sky News.
“There is good evidence now that particularly natural immunity that comes from having the virus may not be lasting so that [in] six to eight months your immune response might wane”.
Pfizer supply lines and global competition for the drug could limit Australian access to the vaccine according to Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Catherine Bennett, who suggested a diversification strategy would be wise.
“At the moment it’s a challenge because some of the supply lines have actually been the problem for Pfizer and there is so much competition in so many countries doing it hard,” she told Sky News.
“Having a few options for us is really important”.
Ms Bennett acknowledged the difficulties of predicting which vaccines would be effective during the trial stage and admitted the government were trying to “look into a crystal ball” when the agreements were first made back in 2020.
She touted the Moderna vaccine as a possible candidate which the government could access through the COVAX scheme once it was given approval from the TGA.
Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Catherine Bennett says Australia will be closely watching the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine overseas which has been approved for use in Britain.
“There are some real advantages to this particular vaccine,” she told Sky News.
“It’s one that’s easier to get out to people, it’s cheaper.
“It doesn’t have those same minus 70-degree freezing complications, it’s also one that we can produce partly in Australia so that does in fact really help us you know get the vaccine out to people.
“It’s also one where they’ve tested it for reducing infection, not just the COVID illness, and that’s really important if we want to stop transmission in the community".