Researcher says, COVID-19 Boosters can help in preventing the third wave

COVID-19 Boosters can help in preventing the third wave

Many countries have decided to proceed with the plans to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters in the upcoming months. To check whether it could strengthen waning antibody responses in the most vulnerable section of the population. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved giving immune boosters to people with compromised immune systems. The World Health Organization (WHO), has questioned the ethics of such booster campaigns, especially when so many people around the world have yet to receive their first dose. As of May, high-income countries have administered approximately 50 doses per 100 people. However, due to a lack of supply in low-income countries, this has been reduced to 1.5 doses for every 100 people. Only 1.1% of people in low-income countries have received their first immunization, which is insufficient to even protect the healthcare workers. The rest of the population there is already at a life threat.

Why are Boosters needed?

Booster campaigns are needed to boost immunity against COVID-19 especially for people with weakened immune systems. However, hoarding vaccines for booster shots by leaving so many people unvaccinated around the world may disbalance the original idea for protection. The vast majority of people who got hospitalized or killed by COVID-19 were unvaccinated. Booster shots for people who have already been vaccinated are unlikely to change this pattern. 

Disappearing Antibodies

There is evidence that levels of neutralizing antibodies begin to decline in the months after vaccination/infection, and these antibodies decline faster in a few people. Certain people, such as organ transplant recipients who take immunosuppressive drugs, have a weaker immune system that makes vaccination less effective. According to new research, giving a third dose (mRNA vaccine) to organ transplant recipients two months after their second dose results in significantly higher levels of antibodies.

Antibodies play an important role in preventing infection blocking the coronavirus from entering our cells. It is unclear whether this decrease in neutralizing antibodies correlates with a decrease in vaccine effectiveness – or how low levels of neutralizing antibodies would need to fall for vaccine effectiveness to suffer. T Cells are also important because they are immune soldiers that recognize and destroy infected cells. Researchers discovered evidence of robust T cell responses at least six months after infection. They believe that even if people are re-infected with coronavirus, this T cell memory can prevent them from becoming seriously ill. 

Infections that have a breakthrough

Although an increasing number of adults in wealthy countries are fully vaccinated. It is becoming clear that a minority can still contract COVID-19 – so-called breakthrough infections. Countries are concerned that existing doses will not provide adequate protection for Delta Variant. On the other hand, vaccines continue to provide high levels of protection, particularly against severe diseases. 

Public health officials could consider administering booster shots if they noticed evidence of protection dwindling. As the critical antibody and T cell levels required to confer protection are unknown. Researchers must rely on the observations of how many vaccinated people are infected and admitted to hospitals or die from COVID-19. 

Factors of Difference

Giving boosters may also be short-sighted. As more people are infected by the virus it creates more opportunities to develop mutations that reduce vaccine effectiveness. This risk may be heightened if people with compromised immune systems are not protected. If they survive, they are more likely to have prolonged infections. Their viruses may evolve into further mutations that can help them to overcome some of their immune defences during treatment.

New virus variants can often spread faster and be more lethal than previous versions of the virus. Several case studies have shown that some of the same mutations found in the Beta and Gamma variants emerge during the treatment of immuno-compromised patients with persistent COVID-19 infections. With the emergence of new variants (Omicron), the majority of the world needs to adjust the vaccines for the future in case of being left unvaccinated. 

There is a strong chance that it will happen if immuno-compromised people in wealthy countries are not given booster doses. However, it may be prudent to postpone the administration of boosters to a large number of relatively healthy older adults until there is more data. If they are released too soon, people may begin to receive boosters that have no real benefit. There are still a lot of unknowns. Booster shots may be required to increase and extend immunity, but they may not be, or they may be required only for certain groups of people. There is one certainty, research is going on.