A new study suggests that antibodies may be a reliable and solid indicator of how well the COVID-19 vaccine protects people.
Do antibodies stop severe COVID?
The study — which has not been peer-reviewed but can be read on medRxiv — suggests that antibodies can determine how well a COVID-19 vaccine is warding off infection and illness from the coronavirus.
- The study concluded that the “binding and neutralizing antibodies correlated with COVID-19 risk and vaccine efficacy” can protect against COVID-19 infection.
Will COVID booster shots stop COVID?
Per NPR, this study suggests that giving people a COVID-19 booster shot would raise antibody levels, which “would go a long way toward protecting them against the coronavirus, including some of the newer and more dangerous variants.”
- The study was mentioned during Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent White House briefing presentation, appearing briefly on a slide, according to NPR.
Why the US is adding COVID-19 booster shots
This is encouraging data as the United States prepares for the release of booster shots on vulnerable populations. And it adds to growing evidence that the third shot — a booster shot that will up antibody counts — can protect against COVID-19.
For example, new data from the Israeli Health Ministry found that a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has led to improved protection against COVID-19 infections and severe illness, especially among those 60 years old and up, per Reuters.
- The third dose of the Pfizer vaccine — which was a booster shot for the people of Israel — gave people four times as much protection against infection as two doses, according to The Washington Post.
- And, in other positive news, the third dose provided five to six times higher protection against severe illness from the coronavirus.