New Finnish research shows that 180 health workers who received two doses each of the Pfizer or Biontech vaccine had very strong antibody responses against the SARS-2 virus. While the immune response against the alpha variant was stronger than against the UK variant, it was slightly lower against the beta variant.Researchers from Finland, University of Turku and University of Helsinki, together with Turku University Hospital and Helsinki University Hospital and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, studied the immune response to coronavirus vaccines. They began in Finland in December. Researchers analysed the vaccine responses of 180 health care workers who received two doses each of the Biontech and Pfizer mRNA vaccines.After two doses of vaccine, all subjects were found to have a high level of antibody against the virus. The immune response against the beta variant of the virus was equally strong. Although the immune response to the beta variant of the virus was less strong, subjects who were vaccinated had neutralizing antibodies that provide good protection."The effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine was demonstrated and it is capable of inducing antibody responses in working-age populations, regardless of age or gender. The vaccine is one the most effective that I have ever studied," said Professor of Virology Ilkka Junkunen. Her research group studies the immune response to coronavirus vaccines as well as natural infections.Pinja Jalkanen, a doctoral candidate at the University of Turku, says that after two doses of the covid-19 vaccine, the immune response was even more effective than that of mild coronavirus infections."It's also encouraging that almost all of the vaccinated subject had even a slight amount of neutralizing antibodies against the beta variant," says Professor Anu Kantele, Helsinki University Hospital and Meilahti Vaccine Center (MeVac), University of Helsinki.###The longitudinal study of the immune response and protection against variants that circulate around the globe continues. The research also focuses on the analysis and comparison of antibodies to other coronavirus vaccines. The study was done without the support of pharmaceutical industry.Nature Communications published the study.
