Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 Local doctors weigh in on top COVID-19 variant By Christopher Roberson Despite the downward trend in COVID-19 cases, the variant strain, known as B117, continues to gain momentum. Although other variants exist, Dr. Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha, the division chief of infectious diseases at Cambridge Health Alliance, said B117 has been the most prevalent variant thus far. Yet, she remained confi dent in the vaccines that were developed by Moderna and Pfi zer at the end of last year. "Fortunately, the three variants that have received recent attention appear to remain susceptible to antibodies produced in response to the two authorized vaccines currently in use,” she said. “Although the mRNA vaccines may be mildly less effective against this variant, most vaccine experts do not believe this subtlety will be clinically relevant.” However, Bruno-Murtha said the situation could easily spiral out of control just as it did when the original COVID-19 virus surAUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash For Your Car, Truck or SUV! 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4X4 Crew Cab, Z71 Package, Just Serviced, Clean Title, Only 126K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME! $11,900 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com 2010 MERCURY MILAN 4-Door, Auto., Most Power Options, Clean Title, New Tires, Only 130K Miles, Runs & Drives Great, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME! $3,995 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! faced nearly one year ago. “More variation will occur as the virus continues to widely circulate,” she said. “If infections can be reduced and quickly controlled, there will be less of an opportunity for the viruses to mutant and gain selective advantages. Given some evidence that these variants are more transmissible, ongoing eff orts to maximize personal safety remain essential.” Dr. Benjamin Linas, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Medical Center, said B117 is simply the product of “natural mutation.” “It is 100 percent normal and expected for viruses to mutate,” he said, adding that errors are inevitable at some point during the replication process, thus spawning a new variant. “There are a lot of viruses in an infected person’s body and even a tiny percentage of successful mutations will result in new variants emerging. This is an evolutionary survival of the fi ttest situation” Linas also said the spike protein found in B117 is much more potent than the spike protein in the original COVID-19 virus. “This is what makes the virus more infectious -- it is better at getting into host cells,” he said. In addition, Linas agreed with Bruno-Murtha regarding the effi cacy of the vaccines. “The good news is that the same things we do to prevent COVID will also work against B117,” he said. “The vaccines we have now are eff ective against B117.” Dr. Mark Siedner, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said B117 is estimated to be 50 to 60 percent more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19. “This virus is becoming increasingly predominant,” he said. However, Siedner said safeguards are now in place to prevent a shutdown similar to what happened last spring. “The protective measures that keep us safe don’t change, social responsibility doesn’t change,” he said. “I don’t foresee us going back in time; we should not be where we were a year ago.” However, Dr. Richard Ellison, an infectious disease specialist at UMass Memorial Medical Center, was not as optimistic about the vaccines’ to ability to guard against B117. “We don't have any good evidence at all,” he said. “It’s defi - nitely very worrisome.” Ellison also called attention to the havoc that B117 has already caused in the United Kingdom. “What we saw in England could realistically happen here,” he said. Mass. National Guard Begins Assisting with Community Vaccinations in East Boston, Springfield and Danvers First team deployed to East Boston with additional personnel available for local needs BOSTON - As part of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, the Massachusetts National Guard has begun providing support of vaccination initiatives. Beginning last week, ten medically qualifi ed Guard members are partnering with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) to administer vaccines in East Boston. Today, two teams of ten Guard members will be on site at the Springfi eld and Danvers mass vaccination sites to assist in administering vaccine. Medically qualifi ed soldiers and airmen began assisting with vaccine administration. Their assistance at EBNHC is expected to continue for at least three weeks to support four vaccination sites throughout EBNHC’s service area including East Boston, Chelsea, Revere and the South End. The mission is federally funded. The Guard will continue to make qualifi ed personnel available to the Executive Offi ce of Health and Human Services for deployment to facilities requesting assistance. The National Guard has personnel with a range of applicable expertise within its ranks, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and medics. COVID | SEE Page 11
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