This article talks about a new preprint study from Oxford University showing that a COVID-19 breakthrough infection provides better and longer protection than a booster shot.
A breakthrough infection is a COVID-19 infection in those with COVID-19 jabs.
In the investigation, the authors compared whether a third or booster shot or a breakthrough infection following a second vaccination provides better protection against Omicron BA.4/5.
The research involved 154,149 adults ≥18y from the United Kingdom.
Levels of the anti-spike antibody measured the degree of protection as time passed.
A previous study by the authors determined that antibody levels of 100 Binding antibody Units/milliliter (BAU/mL) in vaccinated individuals without prior infection gave 67% protection against a Delta infection.[2]
However, since the Omicron has a mutated spike protein, more antibodies are needed (>1,000 BAU/mL) to protect against the Omicron BA.4/5.
Study Results
We found that higher anti-spike IgG antibody levels were associated with increased protection against Omicron BA.4/5 infection and that breakthrough infections were associated with higher levels of protection at any given antibody level than booster vaccinations.
Breakthrough infections generated similar antibody levels to third/ booster vaccinations, and the subsequent declines in antibody levels were similar to or slightly slower than those after third/booster vaccinations.
Taken together, our findings show that breakthrough infection provides longer-lasting protection against further infections than booster vaccinations.
For example, a person with a Delta or Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection could have 5-10 months of protection against Omicron BA.4/5 reinfection. That’s because breakthrough cases have antibody levels associated with 67% protection against
disease. In comparison, a third/booster vaccination did not provide long-lasting protection.
The graph below shows that the antibody levels of those with breakthrough infections are higher than those with a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot among ages 30 and above.
Comments:
One reason breakthrough infections are more effective than booster shots is that the SARS-CoV-2 mutates inside the body. The body then makes antibodies for each mutation to control the virus resulting in several antibody variations against SARS-CoV-2.
The result is that protection is afforded against several variants. A study by Zhou et al. [3] published in Clinical and Translational Medicine concluded that. I talked about that research at:
Omicron infections elicit neutralizing antibodies against variants of concern
COVID booster shots have less than ideal efficacy. I discussed them at:
- The problems with the Omicron booster shots
- Omicron outbreak in triple jabbed health care workers
- Study shows the absence of omicron neutralization with the Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots
In deciding whether a booster is needed against the prevalent variant, we must know whether Omicron has a high fatality rate. You can learn about that at
- USA study: Adults and children with the Omicron variant have milder COVID-19
- Multinational study shows why the Omicron variant has low fatality and high infectivity.
- Higher number of COVID-19 cases but no change in death rates. The South African omicron experience
I hope that this article helps you in deciding whether to have a booster shot or not.
Truth heals. Lies kill. Don’t Get Sick!
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Reference:
- Wei et al. Correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and anti-spike antibody responses after a third/booster vaccination or breakthrough infection in the UK general population
- Wei J et al. Antibody responses and correlates of protection in the general population after two doses of the ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 vaccines. Nat Med. 2022 May;28(5):1072-1082. doi: 10.1038/s41591-022-01721-6. Epub 2022 Feb 14. PMID: 35165453; PMCID: PMC9117148.
- Zhou et al. Vaccine-breakthrough infection by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant elicits broadly cross-reactive immune responses. Clinical and Translational Medicine.
Jan 26 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.720
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