Keeping COVID-19 vaccines updated could offer lasting protection against emerging variants. The antibodies generated show cross-reactivity and efficacy against other coronaviruses.
Keeping your COVID vaccines up to date could have benefits beyond boosting immunity to the latest circulating variants, according to a new study led by a team at Washington University School of Medicine. The antibodies generated by the vaccine have been shown to be effective against a number of variants and could help strengthen defenses against future coronaviruses.
The concept of immune signature has been the focus of research in recent years, highlighting crucial similarities and differences between COVID-19 and influenza. While influenza requires an annual vaccine update to adapt to prevalent strains, the immune footprint can limit the effectiveness of new vaccinations. However, the recent study revealed that the footprint generated by COVID-19 vaccines does not appear to compromise the immune response, despite the continuous evolutions of the virus.
The study looked at antibodies from individuals who received vaccines targeting the OG and Omicron variants of COVID-19. The recovered antibodies demonstrated cross-reactivity, recognizing different variants of the virus, as well as being effective against other coronaviruses such as the 2002-2003 SARS virus and the MERS virus. This cross-reactivity has been attributed to the combination of different vaccines received, suggesting that constantly updating vaccinations could lead to greater benefits in countering new variants.
The research team highlighted that keeping one’s immunity high through regular vaccinations could offer long-lasting protection against emerging coronaviruses. The study’s lead author, Michael Diamond, highlighted the importance of monitoring the persistence of cross-reactive antibodies over time to evaluate their long-term effectiveness.
FLiRT variants, particularly KP.2, are currently spreading globally, with some mutations potentially affecting the effectiveness of previous vaccinations. However, health experts agree that the antibodies generated will continue to offer protection. Constantly updating vaccines is recommended to keep immunity high, especially considering the new variants in circulation.
The vaccine landscape is constantly evolving, with the recent withdrawal of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the global market due to a lack of updates to new variants. This event underlines the importance of constantly adapting vaccinations to the evolution of the virus to ensure long-lasting effectiveness over time.
The new study published in Nature opens interesting perspectives on the importance of keeping COVID-19 vaccinations up to date to face the challenges of future coronaviruses and highlights the importance of a dynamic and adaptable vaccination strategy.
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