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‘English variant’ of SARS-CoV-2

Question écrite de Mme Stefania ZAMBELLI - Commission européenne

Question de Mme Stefania ZAMBELLI, Mme Simona BALDASSARRE,

Diffusée le 21 décembre 2020

Subject: ‘English variant’ of SARS-CoV-2

We have learnt recently of a mutated and highly infectious form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as the ‘English variant’, that is circulating in Europe. It seems this variant has been caused by the spike protein mutating in various ways.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control published a study on 20 December 2020 which states that the new variant has been circulating since November, and that this may have an impact on diagnosing the virus, making it necessary to update both molecular and rapid detection swab tests. Furthermore, there might be some issues around the efficacy of the new COVID vaccines as many of them are based around the spike protein sequences.

In view of the above:

1. What steps will the Commission take to coordinate the response to this mutation and avoid uncoordinated national responses, such as happened in February?

2. Since the new variant has been in circulation since November, was the Commission already aware of its existence and does it consider it important to conduct new studies on new diagnostic tools that are sensitive to the new variant?

3. Will this variant cause approval of vaccines based on protein sequences to slow down?

Supporters1

1 This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Antonio Maria Rinaldi (ID), Susanna Ceccardi

(ID)

Réponse - Commission européenne

Diffusée le 10 mai 2021

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(11 May 2021)

Public health response measures are a competency of Member States. Since the United Kingdom (UK) informed the Commission on 14 December 2020, through the Early Warning and Response System, the Commission has held several Health Security Committee (HSC) meetings during which the UK provided updates on the evolution of the situation.

On 21 December 2020, following important developments, an urgent meeting of the HSC took place, dedicated to the new variant.

On 22 December 2020, the Commission adopted the recommendation on EU coordinated approach to travel and transport in response to the new variant of coronavirus in the UK (2).

On 17 February 2021, the Commission published a communication on the HERA Incubator (3), to bring together science, industry and public authorities, and focusing on key areas (detect and analyse new variants of the virus, develop vaccines against new variants, produce at scale and speed vaccines adapted to variants) to aim to respond to the threat of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

With regards to studying the impact on diagnostic assays, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shared an overview of the situation in its latest threat assessment brief (4). ECDC highlighted how some tests targeting the S-gene may produce negative results, as the mutation involves an S-gene deletion.

Furthermore, ECDC pointed out that, at the moment of publication, there have not been any reports on the new variant impacting negatively rapid antigen detection tests.

The vaccines authorised in the EU appear to be effective against the variants currently prevalent in the EU. The European Medicines Agency and the Commission are working to ensure more flexibility to accelerate the approval of vaccines adapted to new variants.

⋅1∙ This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Antonio Maria Rinaldi (ID), Susanna Ceccardi (ID)

⋅2∙ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_2520

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-hera-incubator-anticipating-threat-covid-19-variants_en.pdf

⋅4∙ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-risk-related-to-spread-of-new-SARS-CoV-2-variants-EU-EEA.pdf







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