3 ms·
Given the political discussions about “booster shots”, I find this quote pretty interesting: > Other studies suggest that a two dose regimen may be counterprod
by extheat 5y ago
Given the political discussions about “booster shots”, I find this quote pretty interesting:
> Other studies suggest that a two dose regimen may be counterproductive. One found that in people with past infections, the first dose boosted T cells and antibodies but that the second dose seemed to indicate an “exhaustion,” and in some cases even a deletion, of T cells.34 “I’m not here to say that it’s harmful,” says Bertoletti, who coauthored the study, “but at the moment all the data are telling us that it doesn’t make any sense to give a second vaccination dose in the very short term to someone who was already infected. Their immune response is already very high.”
- Pxtl 5y agoThat sounds more like an argument for the Canadian model where we went several months between shots (on the assumption that a high percentage of the populace partially-protected was more useful than a small percentage fully protected). I'm assuming semiannual or quarterly shots will be where we land until Covid is no longer a major threat.
- vinay427 5y agoTo be fair, that model wouldn't be as ideal with the greater proportion of the US population unwilling to get vaccinated, as well as the higher vaccine availability in the US. It seems like Canada would make a better case given the lower vaccine skepticism and vaccine supply.
- fernandotakai 5y agoi really don't understand why booster shots are a "political discussion" i have normal flu booster shots ever year -- and that's fine. why not for covid?
- TimTheTinker 5y agoEvery year influenza mutates. The flu booster shot is actually a full vaccination based on the leading 2-3 variants they predict will be dominant in the coming flu season. Also, flu vaccines are based on weakened viral particles, not mRNA transcriptions of key viral proteins... so the two really aren't comparable.
- favorited 5y ago> flu vaccines are based on weakened viral particles, not mRNA transcriptions of key viral proteins Thankfully this is changing. Moderna is entering trials for an mRNA vaccine for seasonal flu. The faster development time for mRNA vaccines will mean more time to study the emerging flu strains before committing to which to include in the booster.
- TimTheTinker 5y agoIt will be very interesting to study the effects of an mRNA shot on the epidemiology of influenza. Being less politically loaded, perhaps such studies could shed insight on COVID epidemiology and help improve policy.
- JoshuaDavid 5y agoThe political discussion is more about whether booster shots should be mandatory or whether they should be forbidden.