A Is for Antibodies

Antibodies are the proteins manufactured in the body, in response to exposure to 'foreign' proteins. They are, of couse, the basis of immune responses. A team at University College London, followed the immune responses of more than 8,500 people in England and Wales, who had been given one of the two available vaccines (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/96-of-britons-develop-antibodies-after-one-covid-jab-study-finds). The study found that 96% of subjects had healthy antibody levels to Covid-19, 28-34 days after their first vaccine dose. A full 99% had antibodies in their blood, 7-14 days after the 2nd dose. The team described the responses of both the Oxford/AstraZeneca and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines as being 'excellent'. The 2 vaccines were effectively indistinguishable in their abilities to protect individuals from infection by Covid-19. This finding makes it all the sadder to read of the former vaccine, being poured down sinks in parts of France. In that country, there has been poor uptake of this demonised vaccine. Rather than waste what is a highly effective treatment, the vaccine could have gone to poorer parts of the world with shortages.