Now armed with what may essentially be stronger immunity against whatever variant may develop in the coming weeks, many wonder the likelihood of getting a fourth booster shot. For some—like myself—the prospect of enduring another three-day whiplash of COVID symptoms only to realize it’s your body ramping up its immunity sounds grisly. However, according to new studies by scientists across the globe, our bodies may have developed ample immunity with either two or three doses of the vaccine for not possibly months, but maybe years ahead.
E. John Wherry, Director of the Institute for Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania stated that there are “diminishing returns on the number of additional doses,” after the second vaccine shot, and even more after the third booster. In early November, the rise of Omicron variant cases in the U.S. comprised more than 73% of cases in the country. The variant caused federal health officials to recommend retrieving a booster shot on top of two vaccine doses. The reasoning behind the recommendations is a result of a few key players in your body’s immune system.
Key Players: Antibodies, memory T-cells, memory B-cells, and your own genetics
Vaccines contain “weakened or inactive parts of a particular [antigen] that triggers an immune response within the body.” This means that when the vaccine enters your body, your body’s first line of defense, lymphocytes, produce the antibodies that create a virtual wall of defense against viral invasions. Antibodies recognize two or three pointers on a virus’s protein spike and start to develop immune responses on it. It’s an immediate response and as such reduces in quantities as time progresses and exposure to a virus wanes. A large reason behind the third booster recommendation is to fortify that quick immune response and develop a wall of antibodies that won’t allow another variant to evade and attack an individual’s immune system.
However, new studies show that after the third booster shot, our body is now capable of possibly remembering and destroying future variants of the virus over the next few months—possibly years. This powerhouse is generated by the joint collaboration between two other lymphocytes, memory T-cells and memory B-cells.
T-cells are responsible for, “directly killing infected host cells [viruses], activating other immune cells, and regulating the immune response.” T-cells that are produced from vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, J&J, and Novavax are stated to be “80% as powerful against Omicron as other variants.” This study is supported by past studies on the SARS coronavirus epidemic in Asia which, in 2004, showcased that those T-cells “have lasted more than 17 years,” and the immune cells for the current coronavirus could also “decline [in T-cells] very slowly.” T-cells are also more powerful than antibodies because they recognize many more parts of the spike, and are more likely to develop a stronger immune response against future mutations.
The second half of the dynamic duo is memory B-cells. Memory B-cells are “long-lived plasma cells that secrete protective antibodies for a lifetime,” and can “elicit improved and enhanced responses upon new antigen challenges.” Vaccines encode the memory of viruses in B cells which can develop new antibodies within four or five days of exposure to the virus. A combo of memory B-cells and T-cells allow for greater immunity in individuals. Recent studies also show that the germinal center, where B-cells are produced, remains active for at least 15 weeks after the second vaccine dose. These B-cells continue “to mature and the antibodies they produce keep gaining the ability to recognize new variants.” Even though the vaccines are not created for new mutations, “more than half of the antibodies seen one month after a third dose were able to neutralize Omicron,” studies have found.
Finally, some may be able to fend off or easily relapse to new variants simply because of genetics. Genetics continues to play a big role in the immunity of an individual, as a recent study by King’s College London reveals, “nearly three-quarters of immune traits are influenced by genes.” Likewise, for those who may believe an infection would provide a stronger immune response to a booster, immunity generated by infection “varies quite a lot, while the vaccine response is much more consistently good,” said Marcus Buggert, an immunologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who led the study.
Feeling sick after a booster? You are not alone!
The most likely reason for people to face more symptoms after the second or third dose of the vaccine is likely a result of your body’s immune response ramping up antibody production. According to Dr. Zucai Suo, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Science at the Florida State University College of Medicine stated that “unfortunately, some of the immunized people will experience severe side effects from the antibody amplification stage.” However, the reason for this is largely dependent on how your genetic immune system responds to viral infections and how your body tolerates them. Whatever the case may be, it is important to take the necessary rest for your body for at least 24 hours after the vaccine.
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