💉 Covid-19: The Vaccination Approach Called Into Question

Why do some people with high concentrations of antibodies against COVID-19 develop severe forms, while others, with moderate levels, experience less intense symptoms?

Work carried out at the University of California, Los Angeles helps answer this question. The team analyzed data from patients infected at various stages of the pandemic, cross-referencing measurements of neutralizing antibodies with actual clinical pictures. This methodology allows for a finer understanding of the influence of our immune defenses on the evolution of the virus and on the severity of infections.


The results indicate that patients with a low concentration of antibodies generally present prolonged symptoms, reflecting a slower elimination of the virus. However, none of these cases progressed to a critical form. On the other hand, some individuals with medium or strong concentrations required specific treatment or even respiratory assistance.

This immune dynamic also influences the trajectory of SARS-CoV-2. Strong pressure exerted by antibodies encourages the virus to mutate rapidly to avoid detection, although this ability alone is not sufficient for the emergence of a dominant variant.

Concretely, this vision helps steer vaccination strategies towards antigens, the substance that the body's defense system must learn to recognize, which are likely to induce light but long-lasting protection. This approach would make it possible to fight more effectively against the spread of the virus while reducing the risk of progression to a severe form of the disease.