In a new study, researchers found that 99% of people generate a robust immune response against COVID-19 after just one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
They examined how the immune system responds to COVID-19 after one dose of the Pfizer vaccine among people who have been infected by COVID-19 before and those who have not.
It suggests one dose of the vaccine protects against severe disease, supporting the decision to delay the second dose and provide protection to as many higher-risk groups as possible by providing more first doses.
The study also showed after two doses levels of protection were even stronger, underlining the importance of people coming forward for their second dose.
The research was conducted by a team at the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford.
In the study, the team analyzed blood samples from 237 healthcare workers to understand their T cell and antibody responses following vaccination from the Pfizer vaccine.
They found that people who had previously been infected with COVID-19 showed higher T cell and antibody responses after one dose of the Pfizer vaccine compared with people who had never had COVID-19 before and had one dose of the vaccine.
The researchers discovered that among people who had had COVID-19 in the past, the T cell response expanded after vaccination to recognize more regions of the COVID-19 spike protein—which attacks the immune system and causes severe disease.
This means, even in those already infected, vaccination from the Pfizer jab provides better protection and an enhanced immune response to COVID-19 than the immune response from natural infection, further supporting the need for a vaccination program.
It is not yet known how long T cell and antibody response lasts following infection.
The team says the first dose of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine offers good levels of protection, but to get maximum protection it is vital everyone gets a second dose when invited as two doses of the vaccine will provide longer-lasting protection from the virus.
The study information can be found here. One author of the study is Dr. Thushan de Silva.
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