Scientific American: The Most Worrying Mutations in Five Emerging Coronavirus Variants

COVID-19 does not mutate as readily as other viruses that cause flu, hepatitis, or AIDS, but its stability has been severely overestimated. Recent studies suggest that there are a few people who have recovered from COVID-19 but happened to get re-infected with the mutant strains. Both vaccines produce enough antibodies and offer over 90% effectiveness, that a slight drop in activity would still make them worthy to neutralize the virus. It is unlikely that the new COVID-19 variants will completely compromise the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is important to think about the possibility of the companies needed to retool the existing vaccines and administer its updated version, similar to the way the flu vaccines are revised every year. Nevertheless, each infected individual is essentially an opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 to reinvent itself and become better at being a virus. Read the full article here