A new study by the researchers of Oregon Health & Science University has found that people who were previously vaccinated or naturally infected show “significantly reduced” defense against two widely circulating variants, according to Medical Xpress.
The findings emphasize the importance of vaccinations along with following public health measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Co-senior author Dr. Fikadu Tafesse said, “We know that the virus continues to evolve for its own advantage.”
The researchers found that two variants of concern, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), originating in the U.K., and B.1.351 (Beta), originating in South Africa, have shown reduced neutralization by antibodies in the blood of almost 100 people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or previously infected by the virus.
In the case of the Beta variant, the investigators measured a nine-fold reduction in efficacy than the original COVID-19 virus.
Nevertheless, the researchers took the findings as a positive development, stating that vaccination and earlier infections still had some residual protection against the two strains.
The findings also suggest the need for continued precaution among older individuals. The researchers found a marked reduction in antibodies in people aged 50 and above.
Another co-senior author Dr. Bill Messer expressed concerns over the heightened susceptibility of older adults.
He said, “The people who surround our older and more vulnerable populations need to get vaccinated and minimize exposure to the virus. You can’t just walk into a nursing home because they’re all vaccinated. If you’re not vaccinated, that’s still a problem.”
Another co-senior author Dr. Marcel Curlin said the findings suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine continues to offer some level of protection against these variants even though the overall level of protection is lower compared to the original strain.
Dr. Curlin said the findings also suggest that it is likely people with need booster doses in the future, similar to the annual flu vaccine.
He said, “Influenza has a much larger potential for variability than the coronavirus. Hopefully, coronaviruses will be easier to manage.”
Dr. Messer agreed, “We have learned to cope with influenza. I think we will learn to do the same with COVID-19 as well.”
