Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine induces good immune response against coronavirus variants
Two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine induce a "very good" antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 variants, according to a study on 180 health care workers in Finland. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications on June 28, found that immune response was as strong against the Alpha variant first identified in the UK, as against the original virus found in Wuhan, China.
The immune response somewhat decreased against the Beta variant
The immune response was somewhat decreased against the Beta variant first found in South Africa, but the vaccine generated neutralizing antibodies that give relatively good protection. A neutralizing antibody is responsible for defending cells from pathogens. The researchers, including those from the University of Turku and University of Helsinki, studied the immune response induced by vaccinations, which started in Finland in December last year.
Vaccine responses were analyzed in 180 health care workers
Researchers analyzed vaccine responses in 180 health care workers, each of whom received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA vaccine, and compared it with immune response in recovered COVID-19 patients. The vaccine participants were aged 20-65 years; 149 were females and 31 were males. The group of recovered COVID-19 patients comprised 50 volunteers aged 19-93; 33 among them were females and 17 were males.
All vaccinated subjects found to have excellent antibody level
All vaccinated subjects were found to have an excellent antibody level against the original virus after two doses. "The study demonstrates the efficiency of the...vaccine and its ability to induce antibody responses in the working-age population regardless of their age or sex. The vaccine is one of the most effective I have ever studied," said Ilkka Julkunen, Professor at the University of Turku.
Neutralizing antibodies give relatively good protection against the Beta variant
Although the immune response against the Beta variant of the virus was weaker, the vaccinated subjects did have neutralizing antibodies that give relatively good protection against the variant. "After two doses, the immune response created by the COVID-19 vaccine was even better than after a coronavirus infection with mild symptoms," said Pinja Jalkanen, a doctoral candidate at the University of Turku.
The study will continue to follow up on immune response
Professor Anu Kantele from the Helsinki University Hospital noted that it is very promising that nearly all of the vaccinated subjects even had a small amount of neutralizing antibodies against the Beta variant. The study will continue to follow up on immune response and protection against other variants circulating around the world, such as the Delta variant first found in India.
