VIRGINIA – Just as the vaccine had given the health care world a leg up in the battle against COVID-19, mutant strains of the virus have emerged. “These newer variants have more changes and that’s why we’re starting to worry a little bit,” said Dr. Paul Skolnik, the chair of medicine at Carilion Clinic. We don’t know what a new variant could do,” said Dr. Christopher Lewis, Centra Health’s vice president of medical affairs. Lewis said the question is whether or not these variant strains could be more infectious or more dangerous. Lab tests have proven that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work to protect you from these new strains.