Current COVID vaccines appear protective against variants, WHO Europe says

Hans Kluge, World Health Organization regional director for Europe, attends a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow, Russia September 23, 2020. (Photo:REUTERS)

Hans Kluge said health authorities should remain vigilant on the rising number of cases in the region of COVID-19 caused by a variant that emerged in India, but stressed that vaccination and infection control measures would help prevent its spread.

"All COVID-19 virus variants that have emerged so far do respond to the available, approved vaccines," Kluge told a media briefing.

Countries across Europe are rolling out vaccines from several drugmakers, including Pfizee, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.