501.V2 being a new strand of the Coronavirus that appears to possibly have mutated its way into immunity. According to the BBC, the current vaccines may still work but due to the resistance or “immunity” that the current South African variant has developed within itself —- said vaccines may be weakened.
Experts are cautioning that research is being done at breakneck speed to determine if new vaccines may be needed and the fact that there is no need to panic at this time. The South African variant, thus, has been detected in the United Kingdom and the United States as of this writing.
It is unclear whether or not this variant is more deadly or transmissable, but what is known, is that this variant has ravaged the South African coast.