Chinese jabs 'effective for virus variants'

China CDC says further efforts needed to prevent other strains from entering

China's COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the two major variants of the novel coronavirus that have been imported, but sustained efforts are still needed to prevent other strains from entering, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Thirty-seven confirmed cases caused by the B.1.1.7 variant of the novel coronavirus, first identified in the United Kingdom, had been reported on the Chinese mainland by Feb 10. Another nine confirmed cases were caused by the 501Y.V2 variant, which was first detected in South Africa, the China CDC said.

There are no reported cases on the mainland of the P.1 strain first identified in Brazil and now circulating globally, the center said.