A booster injection is intended to increase the levels of immune responses after they have naturally subsided. A boost tricks the immune system into thinking it’s seeing a pathogen again. So the antibody-producing cells and other immune cells start up again.
Booster injection: antibody affinity maturation
The quantity and quality of the antibodies that are produced can be increased. Through a process called antibody affinity maturation, our immune system learns to do a better job of recognizing a pathogen and producing antibodies that bind more closely to their target.
For the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for example, affinity-matured antibodies may be more effective at recognizing variants with multiple mutations.
This recommendation is based on different studies that show that the third dose increases the ability to produce antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. And the third dose is expected to increase your protection, at least in some cases.
Is our immune system weakened?
The main question is how our body and our immune system react to the third puncture against covid. Contrary to some reports, vaccinations or booster doses do not weaken the immune system.
Different viralized publications in recent days indicate that the European agency has admitted that vaccines “weaken the immune system.” As well as that the reinforcement injection or will cause a “significant drop in the immune system” and associate these effects to the administration of the third dose that is carried out in many countries.
These distort the statements of the head of the EMA Vaccination Strategy, Marco Cavaleri, who did state that a strategy based on repeating the vaccination every so often can decrease the immune response to these drugs.
repeated immunization
As explained by the agency, Cavaleri warned that the vaccines could be less effective if the inoculation of booster injections is continuously repeated (he gave an example every four months). Since “frequent and repeated immunizations with the same antigen” could lead to a less adequate immune response, “including memory cells”.
During the press conference, the person in charge expressed his concern about the fact that a strategy that depends on repeated vaccination in the short term is carried out. Which can even generate “fatigue” among citizens.
Strategy against the omicron variant
These statements refer to the administration of several additional doses to the complete regimen in a short period of time and have nothing to do with the booster injection, which the EMA endorses as “safe and effective” for the general population with an immune system healthy.
In addition, the European agency recently reported that two doses of the vaccine protect up to 70% from being hospitalized for omicron infection. While a third injection raises that protection up to 90%.
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