Two doses of COVID-19 vaccines 'highly effective' against B.1.617.2 variant found in India: English health body

"We expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death," a new study by the Public Health England said.

New Delhi: The English health body on Saturday (May 22, 2021) stated that the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are 'highly effective' against the B.1.617.2 variant which was first identified in India. The new study by the Public Health England (PHE) said that the vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant is similar after two doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant dominant in the United Kingdom.  "We expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death," it said.