So far there is strong evidence that existing vaccines provide some protection against emerging variants of the COVID-19 virus. Vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible will help limit the spread and emergence of new variants. Vaccine developers are also working on various ways to extend the resilience of the existing vaccines against new variants.

The effects of virus variants on COVID-19 vaccines (WHO)
The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently in development or have been approved are expected to provide at least some protection against new virus variants because these vaccines elicit a broad immune response involving a range of antibodies and cells. Therefore, changes or mutations in the virus should not make vaccines completely ineffective. In the event that any of these vaccines prove to be less effective against one or more variants, it will be possible to change the composition of the vaccines to protect against these variants.

How COVID vaccines work against the Delta variant (Al Jazeera)
The Delta variant of coronavirus is a source of serious concern as lab tests have shown it is more contagious and resistant to vaccines compared with other forms of COVID-19. However, there is evidence that the available jabs retain important effectiveness against it after two doses.

Can Vaccines Stop Variants? Here’s What We Know So Far (NPR)
U.S. health authorities announced that the mutant strain of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom last winter is now the predominant strain in the United States. And it’s been found in at least 130 other countries as well. On a reassuring note, officials said there’s strong evidence all three vaccines approved for use in the U.S. — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — offer good protection against this variant, especially against severe disease.

Can the Covid Vaccine Protect Me Against Virus Variants? (New York Times)
Vaccines do a good job of protecting us from coronavirus, but fear and confusion about the rise of variants have muddled the message. While it’s true that the virus variants are a significant public health concern, the unrelenting focus on each new variant has created undue alarm and a false impression that vaccines don’t protect us against the various variants that continue to emerge. Here are answers to common questions.

The vaccine race against the coronavirus variants, explained (Vox)
There is beginning to be an increase in evidence that the South African variant not only makes the vaccine less effective but it is also difficult to immunize against itself. It seems as though, according to Vox, that the vaccines do hold some effectiveness against the new strains of COVID – 19, but it is critical to get as many people vaccinated as possible to prevent a massive spread. “Johnson & Johnson’s phase 3 clinical trial commenced after those from other manufacturers, so they were able to capture the efficacy of their vaccine against some of the new variants. “The [Johnson & Johnson] Covid-19 vaccine candidate also provided protection against multiple Covid-19 variants,” according to a spokesperson for the company. Johnson & Johnson is also studying a two-dose version of its vaccine.” (Vox). The new variants, and their dominance, hold a critical role in when COVID – 19 will be diminished.

COVID-19 Vaccines vs Variants—Determining How Much Immunity Is Enough (JAMA Network)
With an increase in COVID – 19 vaccinations worldwide, there will become a decrease in new variants produced. The variants that are being produced from COVID -19 have a higher rate of transmission and they are deadlier, this is where the key concern is for the vaccine effectiveness. Research is going, but data thus far indicates that current vaccines may offer some protection against new variants, but not necessary all of them. It is critical moving forward to stop the spread of COVID – 19 to decrease the number of variants that are being produced. 

The Science Behind Why New COVID Variants are Spreading Faster (Wall Street Journal)
As highly transmissible coronavirus variants sweep across the world, scientists are racing to understand why these new versions of the virus are spreading faster, and what this could mean for vaccine efforts. New research says the key may be the spike protein, which gives the coronavirus its unmistakable shape.