The new claim that has recently been circulating on social media is that among the vaccinated, the level of antibodies in the blood drops in a short time - and thus people find themselves exposed to the virus a second time. We checked whether this is true (in ten percent of cases) and whether it means that the person is no longer vaccinated (no)
The new claim that has recently been circulating on social media is that among the vaccinated, the level of antibodies in the blood drops in a short time - and thus people find themselves exposed to the virus a second time.
There is only one problem: the Sheba study was conducted on 2,500 people, and of these only two were the sharp drop in antibody levels measured. That is, the phenomenon occurs in approximately one person out of every 1,250 who receive the vaccine. For everyone else? Everything is fine - thanks for the concern[I].
Oh, did they forget to tell you that on the social network?
But the truth is that I was a bit deceptive: there is more than one problem with this claim. Even in that one-in-a-thousand case where the level of antibodies in the blood drops, people still remain immunized. It is especially important to understand this, because the antibody levels in the blood of most vaccinated people will decrease at some point - within weeks, months, or years - and they will still be protected against the virus.
To understand why this is, we'll quickly dive into the biology behind the vaccine.
on antibodies and in general
Antibodies are produced in the body by B cells. Each B cell can produce only one type of antibody, and the B cells wait quietly in the body until the moment when that foreign factor arrives that they are effective against. Once this happens, B cells go into action and produce abundant primary antibodies against it. These delay the spread of the virus until the immune system is able to launch even more specialized B cells into the campaign, which produce antibodies that are even more effective against the virus. These are IgG antibodies, and they are able to neutralize the virus. catch him and prevent him from acting.
This is what happens when we get a vaccine. Special B cells produce neutralizing antibodies, and these circulate in the blood and tissues at high levels. This means that if a virus enters the body at that stage, it will find itself in front of a firing squad that is ready for it. It will most likely be eliminated so quickly that no signs of illness will even appear.
But what happens when the level of neutralizing antibodies decreases?
The answer is that the level of neutralizing antibodies must decrease sooner or later. If B cells continue to produce them in large quantities, they will accumulate in the blood and interfere with the normal functioning of the body. Therefore, the body works hard to break down those antibodies. And not only that, but those B cells that produce them, themselves fall on their metaphorical sword and commit suicide shortly after the bacteria or virus has been eradicated. They did their job, and are no longer needed. So it is no wonder that some time after the vaccination - within weeks or months - the level of neutralizing antibodies in the blood decreases.
Are we more vulnerable to the virus, once the level of neutralizing antibodies decreases? maybe a little more. The virus will not encounter a firing squad upon penetrating the body. He will be able to go inside and walk around the body a bit - but then he will encounter all the guards who have remained there since the time of vaccination. And they really won't be happy to see him.
Well, let's talk in slightly less picturesque terms. Most of the B cells that acted against the virus really die at the end of the immune response, but a small part of them go into hibernation - winter sleep - and wait for a new attack from the virus. These cells are called "memory cells", and they are the experienced fighters who already know the virus and can re-release antibodies that will stop it with high efficiency.
So what will happen when the virus enters the body of a person who is vaccinated, but with a low level of antibodies? The trained B cells will wake up immediately, divide, release antibodies that are already specially adapted against the virus, and quickly eliminate it. This happens with every vaccine, and there is no reason to think that the vaccine against the corona virus will be any different.
One problematic point in the whole story is that the memory cells themselves do not always remain in the body for long. Sometimes they die on their own after weeks, months, or years. It is impossible to know in advance how long they will survive, and that is why in some vaccines we provide booster shots after a few years. These injections help ensure that the number of memory cells will remain high, so that we will be protected from the causes of diseases for many years.
Will the vaccine against the corona virus also require booster shots? Probably yes, but it is very hard to believe that we will need them within a few months of receiving the original vaccine. It's more likely that we'll have to get another shot like this sometime in the next few years, and no more. Of course, if a new variant arrives that is resistant to the current vaccine, then we will have to get a different vaccine developed specifically against it - but this is already an extreme case.
Summary
Here is the summary:
- Opponents of vaccines claimed that the level of antibodies in the blood drops rapidly, but forgot (conveniently) to mention that the phenomenon only occurred in 0.1 percent of those vaccinated.
- Opponents of vaccines claimed that a low level of antibodies exposes us to the virus again, but they forgot (again) to mention that even in this situation the vaccinated body will be able to react much more effectively against the virus, which should therefore dramatically reduce the risk of developing an infectious disease.
And at the end of the day, one simple question is asked: so what?
Even if we were to assume that the vaccine stops being effective after a few months (a far-fetched assumption, but okay), it still protected us during that time! We see the results in the field: three-quarters of those admitted to hospitals today come from the unvaccinated population. The vaccinated are mostly protected, if only for a few months. In those months we are able to reopen the economy, go back to shopping malls and meet with family if we have to.
What is the alternative? Not to take the vaccine - at least in the case of Pfizer and Moderna it has been proven that its severe side effects are extremely rare - and remain exposed to the virus? Close the farm again every two or three months?
Given this choice, the answer is clear: yes, the right choice was to get vaccinated. Most likely the vaccines will protect us for at least six months, if not much longer.
Now we can only hope - as I wrote in emphasis on my wall already two or three months ago - that the government will make sure to check and isolate all those who enter the gates of Israel, in order to prevent the infiltration of new variants that will be more resistant to the vaccine. But even if they arrive, the vaccination operation has already proven its worth when it allowed us to break free from the lockdown and open the country almost completely, precisely when Europe enters a third wave and begins to close again.
Have you been vaccinated? for health
Haven't you been vaccinated? Too bad. especially for you.
[I] https://www.mako.co.il/news-lifestyle/2021_q1/Article-03e14b53c778871027.htm
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