UK Covid death toll

[Tom Joad]

News that hasn't really been mentioned it that over 1000 new cases in the south east are down to a new variant.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55308211

Does this mean that this new vaccine that's been trotted out is no longer any use?
Covid-19 is a corona virus, as is the common cold. That's never been beaten because it's constantly mutating. Does this mean that Covid-19 will be with us in perpetuity as it keeps mutating like the common cold?
So many questions. We need someone who knows what they're talking about, rather than politicians, to tell us what's really happening.

Why does a huge part of me think that they are shouting this NEW variant from the rooftops to assure Londoners  that tier 3 is necessary? The virus will always mutate and has almost certainly been doing so all along.