Individuals who have been fully vaccinated are not entirely protected from being infected with the Lambda variant of COVID-19, research suggests.
The Japanese study has identified that the Lambda variant is able to dodge antibodies that can combat the virus.
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Academics have found that being fully vaccinated does not stop antibody resistance as it effects people who have been double jabbed just as much as those who are unvaccinated.
Chief researcher Dr Robert Quigley said: “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.”
He added: “You wouldn’t want that combination of a virus that has the ability to spread really quickly, and it has vaccine resistance. That would be your kiss of death.”
Similarly, the Delta variant also shows signs of vaccine resistance, but it is unclear which strain is more severe.
However, the Delta variant is much more common, accounting for 93% of coronavirus cases in America, whereas the Lambda variant barely makes up one percent of cases in the US.
Vaccine resistant can be developed in virus variants once a mutation occurs, with some adverse strains not being neutralised by the suitable antibodies.
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Dr Quigley said: “This is alarming, but not uncommon so it’s no surprise that we’re seeing these variants.
“If the virus sticks around longer, assembling a similar panel to survey mutations and develop subsequent COVID-19 vaccines will be important.”
He added: “Booster shots or a variant-specific vaccine are also important considerations going forward.”
