Antibodies increase 6 to 20 times after the second dose of Pfizer – Sheba

People who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine had a six to 12-fold increase in the amount of antibodies produced to defend against the new coronavirus, reported the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer on Monday. The results of the preliminary research were based on 102 cases of medical personnel vaccinated in the hospital. They had more antibodies than people seriously infected with the virus and recovered. “The survey results are in line with the Pfizer experiment and even better than expected,” Gili Regev-Yochay, director of Sheba’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, said at a briefing on Monday. “I hope that the survey results of the other participating employees are similar. There are certainly reasons for optimism. “The result of the data is that Israel should see a reduction in the coronavirus outbreak across the country as more people receive their second doses, she said. Two people did not develop antibodies, including one who is immunocompromised, said Regev-Yochay. There was no explanation as to why the second person did not develop antibodies, and the hospital is investigating the matter, she said. At the last count, 7,106 Sheba employees were vaccinated with the first dose, or approximately 80% of all employees. Of these, 4,484 received their second dose on Monday. Although the study involved only 102 cases, others were being evaluated, said Regev-Yochay. The study is specifically looking at immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which determine whether a patient has developed immunity. The study does not indicate how long the immunity will last or whether a person with antibodies can still carry the virus and infect others, said Regev-Yochay. However, she said it appeared that people who were vaccinated will not spread the virus, which means that they will not pass it on to others.

Although people who were ill and recovered are still not eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Israel, if additional research shows that the vaccine produces improved immunity, it is possible that they will be inoculated in a second stage, at least with the booster injection, Regev -Yochay said.