2021.05.04 10:32
Not Just About Antibodies: Why mRNA COVID Vaccines May Shield From Variants
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-04/not-just-about-antibodies-why-mrna-covid-vaccines-may-shield-from-variants
2021.05.04 10:42
2021.05.04 14:07
What an advancement they have achieved through such a short(?) half-century in this ever-challenging immunology, providing such a solid springboard to develop the vaccine swiftly based on the newly confirmed/identified messenger RNA concept!!!
Indeed, I, as an old humble student of transplant immunology, was simply awed with much skepticism when I heard about the newly developed vaccine for the first time, two years ago, based on this new technology of mRNA.
But they now proved its activity/efficacy is established not only at the level of T4/T-helper cells but also to T8/T-killer cells, and further directed to NK/Natural Killer cells, beyond the speculation with the old concept I kept through these many years.
So, we old-timers could get the privilege to enjoy the life-extending a few more years, perhaps, with peace of mind!
BB Lee
2021.05.05 18:43
SEOUL (REUTERS) - One dose of Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer was 86.6 percent effective in preventing infections among people aged 60 and older, real-world data released by South Korea showed on Wednesday (May 5).
Data by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) showed the Pfizer vaccine, jointly developed by BioNTech, was 89.7 percent effective in preventing infection at least two weeks after a first dose was given, while the AstraZeneca shot was 86 percent effective.
Its analysis is based on more than 3.5 million people in South Korea aged 60 and older for two months from Feb 26 and included 521,133 people who received a first dose of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca shot.
There were 1,237 Covid-19 cases in the data and only 29 were from the vaccinated group, the KDCA said.
"It is shown that both vaccines provide high protection against the disease after the first dose. (People) should get full vaccinations according to the recommended schedule, as the protection rate will go up further after a second dose," it said.
The findings come as South Korea seeks to drum up participation in its immunization drive after reports about potential safety issues discouraged some people from getting vaccinated.
2021.05.06 07:29
Good to know Korean outcome/data support our belief/expectations but how long it will sustain among the oldies like us, we concern. Six months and then?
BB Lee
This latest study indicates both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines protect us
from variants as explained in the report.
It seems increasingly clear that indeed these mRNA vaccines,
new technology in vaccine making, are the silver bullet against this smart virus,
rescuing mankind.