The big difference between the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine
Ghent, September 15, 2021 – Researcher from the Uz Gent and VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology) has studied the production of Covid-19 antibodies in the nose. 78.3% of research participants built antibodies on the site after their vaccination. Antibodies in the nose can be a major brake on infection and spread.
Antibodies as protection against Covid-19
“Coronavirus enters our bodies through the upper respiratory tract,” clearly nose specialist, throat and ear Prof. Hansel Philippe gevaert. “Newralize antibodies in the blood we make a viral harmless by blocking the binding of proteins to surge into human cells. If the antibodies are also in the nose, they can form the first barrier there to the entry of the virus. Therefore it is important to also investigate the reaction to infection and vaccination on the nose. ‘
Most antibodies on the nose after pfizer vaccination
Blood and nose were checked twice in 46 study participants: just before the first vaccination with Pfizer or Astrazeneca and 13 to 40 days after the second vaccination. 23 participants have infections before their vaccination. Just before their first vaccination, only 17.4% of them showed antibodies in the nose. After full vaccination, 78.3% of all participants built antibodies in the nose.
The participants who received Pfizer showed more antibodies (96%) than participants who received Astrazeneca (59%). Also, local antibodies in Pfizer showed a stronger neutralization of a surge viral protein than in AstraZeneca. Covid-19 infection which has no influence on the results. Blood analysis shows the same number of antibodies in both vaccination groups.
Continuation of research
It is unclear why some vaccines produce antibodies in the nose more often than others. “The explanation might be caused by a different time span between two doses or for different effects from vaccines,” Suspect of Infectious Disease Specialist Prof. Hansel Linos Vandekerckhove. “During a follow-up study, we will map further evolution of the antibody response in the blood and nose. We hope to get more clarity in this way.”