The global spike in Covid-19 cases prompted by the rapid spread of the Delta variant has tested the scientific world.
As the virus continues to evolve, so researchers are seeking to adapt by releasing new vaccines better equipped to deal with an ever-changing threat.
According to the latest World Health Organisation figures, there are almost 300 vaccines in preclinical or clinical stages of development, including those that are already being used.
Here we look at some of the coronavirus vaccines under development and consider how effective they will be against variants that are proving difficult to combat using current shots.
Will new vaccines be more effective against variants?
The emergence late last year of the Delta coronavirus variant, which has been found in more than 130 countries, highlights the need for new or amended vaccines.
New vaccines are being tested against this and other variants and so should prove more effective than current shots at preventing serious disease and, possibly, transmission of the virus.
Polly Roy, a professor of virology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said with the genetic sequences of coronavirus variants easily available, researchers will be able to tailor vaccines to combat them.
“They will know exactly what to change,” she said. “They will design them in such a way that they have a better vaccine.”
China’s Sinopharm develops mRNA vaccine
Among the most notable emerging vaccines is one from Sinopharm, the Chinese pharmaceutical giant that has already produced a widely-administered vaccine based on an inactivated form of the coronavirus.
There have been some concerns that this inactivated virus vaccine, which has been widely used in the UAE, may be less effective than other Covid-19 vaccines, such as those from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca.
For a new vaccine, Sinopharm is using similar technology to that used in the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech jabs, a type of genetic material called messenger RNA, or mRNA.
Such vaccines' codes teach our cells how to make a protein — or even just a piece of a protein — that triggers an immune response inside our bodies which provides protection in the event of infection.
As well as this mRNA vaccine, Sinopharm is developing a second new Covid-19 shot, a recombinant protein vaccine.
Recombinant protein vaccines, produced with genetically-engineered organisms that synthesise viral proteins or antigens, are well established, having been used for many years to protect against diseases such as Hepatitis B.
How will Sinopharm’s new offering compare with alternatives?
The mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna achieved more than 90 per cent efficacy in clinical trials and have been widely rolled out.
However, not all mRNA Covid-19 vaccines have given impressive results. Notably, one from CureVac, a German company, was just 47 per cent effective at preventing disease in results announced in June.
The CureVac mRNA vaccine created heavier side effects for a given dose, possibly because it did not have a particular change in its chemical composition seen in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs.
As a result of the side effects, it had to be used at a lower concentration, which may explain why the protective immune response it stimulated was weaker.
A second-generation mRNA vaccine developed by CureVac and GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical giant, has been found in animal experiments to be more effective at stimulating antibody production.
In results reported last month, this was the case against several key coronavirus variants, including Beta, which first emerged in South Africa; Delta, first detected in India; and Lambda, first detected in Peru. Early-stage clinical trials are due to begin in the final three months of this year.
Another new mRNA vaccine, from China’s Walvax Biotechnology and its collaborators, is further ahead in the trials process.
It is entering late-stage clinical trials in China and other countries including Nepal, with efficacy data likely by the end of the year.
T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
HOW TO WATCH
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
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