She says two variants have already been reported in Maryland
Frederick, MD (KB) Frederick County Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer said there are three variants of the COVID-19 virus that residents should be aware of.
“The ones of greatest concern, the one labeled and identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil,” she said.
During a public information briefing on Thursday, Dr. Brookmyer said both the UK variant and South African variant have been recorded in Maryland.
“Surveillance is taking place in Maryland and we have seen persons who tested positive in Maryland, 17 so far have had that UK variant, 6 with the South African, and so far, none with the Brazil variant,” she said.
The Health Officer said it is not uncommon for viruses to mutate, but it does cause a bit of concern regarding its ability to spread.
“We’re always concerned that maybe the variants will somehow evade the protection of the prevention methods like vaccination or the treatment,” she said.
Dr. Brookmyer had this to say about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines:
“So it does appear from early research that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the ones that are currently available in the United States and available in Frederick, that they do provide protection against these variants,” she stated.
Dr. Brookmyer said as the variants continue to change, it makes getting the COVID-19 vaccine all the more important.