The boosting doses of the coronavirus vaccine greatly boost the body's defense against the coronavirus, found the first mass study by British scientists, which also raises hopes for protection against the Omicron variant.
The study, published in the Lancet Review, is the conclusion of researchers at the Cov-Boost program, on which the British government's decision to give the green light in September was based.
After a third dose of vaccine from different companies to nearly 3.000 volunteers, two to three months after the second dose, there was a significant increase in both antibodies and so-called T-lymphocytes.
According to the study, boosting the dose of Pfizer after two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine increases antibodies 25-fold one month later. Third dose of Pfizer after two doses of Pfizer vaccine increases antibodies by eight times.
The strongest reaction occurs with the administration of a third dose of the Moderna vaccine after two doses of AstraZeneca, as the antibodies increase 32-fold. A booster dose of Moderna after two doses of Pfizer causes an increase in antibodies in the body by 11 times.
However, the researchers note that their conclusion is that both mRNA vaccines are extremely effective in boosting the body with the third dose. Strengthening the defense by producing antibodies, albeit in a lower amount, is caused by the third dose and with the other approved vaccines tested in the study, namely the companies AstraZeneca, Novavax and Janssen.
The finding, however, that is even more interesting in the context of concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines against the Omicron variant is that the booster dose with any vaccine significantly increases the amount of T-lymphocytes, the body's natural defense that is considered to have the most long-term effect against severe disease.
What has been observed is that T-cell activation is equally satisfactory against both the original strain of the coronavirus and the Beta and Delta variants, as they "recognize a much wider range of antigens that may be common to all variants".
Commenting on the finding, lead researcher Professor Sol Faust of Southampton University Hospital said: "Our hope as scientists is that T-cell protection against hospitalization and death will remain intact against Omicron."
Professor Faust added that the increase in antibodies proves that vaccines as booster doses cause a remarkably effective immune response, "a much better response than is needed to prevent hospitalization and death."
The British Minister of Health, Sajid Javid, stated on the occasion of the study that "it proves how important it is for everyone to do the boosting dose, especially under the possible threat of the Omicron variant".
KYPE source