A new study comparing live SARS-CoV-2 to blood samples in a lab environment shows that people who survive a breakthrough illness may have some form of 'super immunity' against variations.
The research looked at how people who had breakthrough infections had a high immune response to the Delta variation, which experts believe means they'll have a strong immune response to other variants as well.
Researchers published their study, titled "Antibody Response and Variant Cross-Neutralization After SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infection," in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
COVID-19' Super Immunity' Study: Antibodies Increases Up to 2,000% If Fully Vaccinated Gets Infection
Researchers noted a 2,000 percent increase in antibodies when a fully vaccinated person is infected with the virus. "The increases were substantial, up to a 1,000% increase and sometimes up to 2,000%, so it's really high immunity," study author Fikadu Tafesse told USA Today. This indicates that the immunizations are safe and effective against COVID-19.
Blood samples were taken from 52 university workers who had received the Pfizer vaccination. Of the 26 who developed minor breakthrough infections, 10 had the Delta variation, nine had non-Delta versions, and seven had unknown variants.
"I think this speaks to an eventual end game," co-author and associate professor of medicine Dr. Marcel Curlin said, per NBC Chicago. "It doesn't mean we're at the end of the pandemic, but it points to where we're likely to land: Once you're vaccinated and then exposed to the virus, you're probably going to be reasonably well-protected from future variants."
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According to the data summary, a breakthrough infection generates a better immune response against the delta variation. Researchers also predicted that reactions would be comparable to other variants like Omicron.
The immune response of people with breakthrough cases to a live virus was compared to that of a control group. The researchers discovered that "breakthrough cases generated more antibodies at baseline," according to NBC Chicago, with those antibodies being "substantially better" at neutralizing the live virus.
Health Officials Urge People to Vaccinate
Meanwhile, health officials continue to promote immunization and booster doses as the greatest defense against COVID-19, especially given the projected prevalence of the omicron strain.
Booster doses are especially necessary to "reconstitute" defenses among the fully vaccinated, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"[Vaccines] may not protect much against [Omicron] infection, but it will go a long way to protect against severe disease," he said Thursday at an event for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Fauci also predicted that Omicron would become the prevalent variety in "a few weeks," but said that unvaccinated people are still exposed to the delta strain, which is resurging in the United States.
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