Researchers at the Northwestern University Political Research Institute say a new study has shown that a two-dose dose of COVID-19 vaccine does not provide sufficient protection against the virus in people who have previously had mild or asymptomatic cases of the disease. means that individuals are still advised to receive both doses of the vaccine.
According to a press release from the researchers, the study examined whether people who had mild or previous asymptomatic cases of coronavirus could get a high level of immunity with a single dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, rather than the two recommended doses. .
The study did not investigate the differences between mild cases of COVID and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in terms of robustness of the immune response.
Researchers say the study shows the importance of getting coronavirus vaccines, with treatments serving as the best way to protect the herd’s immunity and make progress toward ending the pandemic.
“Our data suggest that the path to herd immunity is really through vaccination,” said Professor Thomas McDade, who was one of the people who helped conduct the study.
The study found that a single dose “does not provide adequate protection for most people who have had mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID-19” and that those individuals should continue to receive both doses of treatment.
With several pop-up vaccination clinics in Illinois, health officials hope to make further progress in administering doses and lowering case rates. NBC’s Jen DeSalvo reports 5.
The study enrolled nearly 10,000 people in the Chicagoland area, according to the press release. The researchers used two different types of antibody tests for the study, one providing an accurate measure of previous coronavirus exposure to help identify those who had less severe cases of COVID, and the other provides a measure of the level of protective immunity. against the virus.
The study found that mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID “generate lower levels of protective immunity” than those generated by both doses of coronavirus vaccine.
“These mild cases and asymptomatic cases do not generate much protection and this will slow the progress towards herd immunity (without vaccine),” McDade said.
People who survived more severe cases, including those that required hospitalization, generated a stronger immune response with a single dose, according to the researchers.
“We find that people who have had severe cases of clinically confirmed COVID respond to the first dose of vaccine with a very strong antiviral response and, again, with a lot of protective immunity,” McDade said.
The researchers say that obtaining both doses of COVID vaccine is the best way to ensure protection against the virus itself and more severe results in those who contract the virus, and that the study is further evidence of these arguments.
“It’s very important that people get the highest level of protection they can get with just two doses of vaccine for the vast majority of people,” McDade said.