Key TakeawaysA new study found that the Lambda variant is highly infectious and may be more vaccine resistant than the original strain of COVID-19.Previous studies also found that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the Delta variant.Experts say vaccinations remain the most effective way to prevent against the virus and future mutations.

Key Takeaways

A new study found that the Lambda variant is highly infectious and may be more vaccine resistant than the original strain of COVID-19.Previous studies also found that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the Delta variant.Experts say vaccinations remain the most effective way to prevent against the virus and future mutations.

Similar to the Delta variant, the Lambda variant may be more infectious and vaccine resistant, according to a recent study in Japan.

Robert Quigley, MD, DPhil, senior vice president and global medical director at International SOS, tells Verywell that the findings are not surprising but should be observed critically.

“We’re seeing a trend, which is what all of us in the scientific community expected, that the longer [COVID-19] is allowed to prevail, we’re going to start getting towards vaccines that may not be efficacious against this SARS-CoV-2 viral variant,” Quigley says.

The researchers did not specify whether the Lambda variant was more dangerous than Delta. However, they pointed out that since the World Health Organization (WHO) designates Lambda as a Variant of Interest (VOI)rather than a Variant of Concern (VOC), people may not consider Lambda as an ongoing threat.

Should You Worry About the Lambda Variant?

According to the study, Lambda’s virological features and how they evolve remain unknown. Other studies have also found that the Delta variant demonstrates some levels of resistance to the COVID-19 vaccines.

“You wouldn’t want that combination of a virus that has the ability to spread really quickly… and it has vaccine resistance,” Quigley says. “That would be your kiss of death.”

Scientists will need to develop new vaccines when we reach that point, he adds. “The good news is that we’re not there yet,” he says.

How Does a Virus Become Vaccine Resistant?

Viruses, or variants of viruses, can become vaccine resistant if they mutate. Mutations occur naturally so long as the virus has a host (a person) to infect and transmit infection from.

This is alarming, but not uncommon, Quigley says, adding that scientists also update the influenza vaccine to target new mutations every year.

“Usually they’re pretty close to being right, but it’s not always 100%,” he says. “Some years, they’re not as efficacious as other years.”

If the virus sticks around longer, assembling a similar panel to survey mutations and develop subsequent COVID-19 vaccines will be important, he adds. Booster shots or a variant-specific vaccine are also important considerations going forward, he says.

“It’s no surprise that we’re seeing these variants,” Quigley says. “What is surprising to me is that we’re not, as a society, taking advantage of the data we do know, which is that vaccinated people will stop this spread because there’ll be no place for this virus to replicate.”

What This Means For YouA virus can mutate and change so long as it has a person to infect. Vaccinations are essential in reaching herd immunity and preventing mutations. You can find a vaccination clinic near you atvaccines.gov.

What This Means For You

A virus can mutate and change so long as it has a person to infect. Vaccinations are essential in reaching herd immunity and preventing mutations. You can find a vaccination clinic near you atvaccines.gov.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kimura I, Kosugi Y, Wu J, et al.SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance.bioRxiv. Published online July 28, 2021:2021.07.28.454085. doi:10.1101/2021.07.28.454085World Health Organization.Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants.Lopez Bernal J, Andrews N, Gower C, et al.Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;0(0):null. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kimura I, Kosugi Y, Wu J, et al.SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance.bioRxiv. Published online July 28, 2021:2021.07.28.454085. doi:10.1101/2021.07.28.454085World Health Organization.Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants.Lopez Bernal J, Andrews N, Gower C, et al.Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;0(0):null. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kimura I, Kosugi Y, Wu J, et al.SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance.bioRxiv. Published online July 28, 2021:2021.07.28.454085. doi:10.1101/2021.07.28.454085World Health Organization.Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants.Lopez Bernal J, Andrews N, Gower C, et al.Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;0(0):null. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

Kimura I, Kosugi Y, Wu J, et al.SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance.bioRxiv. Published online July 28, 2021:2021.07.28.454085. doi:10.1101/2021.07.28.454085

World Health Organization.Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Lopez Bernal J, Andrews N, Gower C, et al.Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant.New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;0(0):null. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

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