Results from a new study suggest that people who have recovered from the coronavirus may only need one dose of vaccine to develop the same level of immunity as those who receive two doses.
Like The New York Times reportsFlorian Krammer, author of the study and virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai, said he believed one injection would be enough for people who have already contracted and recovered from COVID-19.
“This would also save people from unnecessary pain when getting the second dose, and it would release additional vaccine doses,” said Krammer.
Krammer’s study found that coronavirus survivors had much higher antibody levels after receiving two doses of the vaccine compared to those who did not receive COVID-19. The study of 231 vaccinated people included 83 who had contracted the virus.
The study also found that people who had previously had the coronavirus were more likely to have unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, and chills after receiving their first vaccine dose.
While some scientists agree with Krammer’s claim, others aren’t convinced, the Times notes.
The director of the Institute of Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, E. John Wherry, told the paper that he would like to see data suggesting that the antibodies seen in the study actually prevented the coronavirus from replicating.
“Just because an antibody binds to part of the virus doesn’t mean it protects you from infection,” Wherry said.
Some health officials have argued that the US should give priority to getting the first injection of the vaccine in as many arms as possible.
But Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciBloomberg: More Americans Received At Least One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Than Tested Positive Biden Officials Defend Two Dose Strategy Amid Fear Of Variants Watch Live: White House Coronavirus Response Team Hold MORE Briefing, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, has said getting a second dose should be a priority.
“The first priority will always be to get the people who got their first dose to get their second dose,” Fauci said.
The Biden administration has maintained that two doses of the vaccine should be administered, although it also urges health care providers not to be overly cautious by keeping second doses of the vaccine in reserve.