Moderna vaccine appears to work against new COVID-19 strains

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine appears to work against new, more infectious strains of the pandemic virus found in the UK and South Africa.

Scientists from the US pharmaceutical company say early laboratory tests suggest antibodies triggered by the vaccine can recognise and fight the new strains.

BBC News reports more studies are needed to confirm if this is true for people who have been vaccinated.

The new strain has been spreading fast in a number of nations.

They have undergone changes or mutations that mean they can infect human cells more easily than the original version of coronavirus that started the pandemic.

Experts think the UK strain, which emerged in September, maybe up to 70% more transmissible.

[Source: BBC]