Topline
A new study has shown that Covid-19 vaccines provide some protection against coronaviruses other than the one responsible for the current pandemic. This raises hopes that a single vaccine will eventually be able to protect against multiple viruses and prevent future pandemics.
Ellie Morton, a clinical pharmacist, prepares to administer the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination at a... [+] community vaccine center in London on March 12, 2021. Getty Images
The Key Facts
This month's Journal of Clinical Investigation published a paper that examined how mice and humans deal with three coronaviruses. They are SARS-CoV-1 (which caused SARS nearly two decades ago), SARS–CoV-2 (which can cause Covid-19), and OC43 (which is often responsible for the common cold). Covid-19-infected people who received Covid-19 vaccines showed increased antibodies against both SARS and OC43. This means that those with some immunity to the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 are protected against similar viruses. Covid-19 vaccine-vaccinated mice also showed an increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-1, OC43 and a 17-year-old SARS-CoV-1 vaccine that provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 which is responsible of Covid-19. Infected and vaccinated people did not show an increase in influenza-related antibodies.
Important Quote
It was not clear until our study if exposure to one coronavirus could result in cross-protection between other coronaviruses. Pablo Penaloza MacMaster, a Northwestern University biology professor, stated in a Friday statement that we proved this to be true.
Contra
Researchers found that not all coronaviruses were equal. Researchers found that coronaviruses are not all equal. Mice who received the SARS-CoV-1 vaccine had strong antibodies to both the virus and SARS-CoV-2. However, their responses against OC43 and the common cold were more modest and statistically significant.
What we don't know
The study did not provide any information on how long the protection against multiple viruses will last. Researchers released a statement Friday confirming that they are still studying the duration.
Important Background
The Covid-19 pandemic, which caused over 4.8 million deaths in the world, is one of the most deadly viral epidemics in recent history. Public health experts warn that SARS-CoV-2, which was discovered less than 20 years after MERS and SARS cases were reported, won't be the last coronavirus virus to infect humans. Scientists are studying pan-coronavirus vaccines to help prepare for the next pandemic. These vaccines could provide some protection against multiple viruses, and could be more rapidly rolled out than a new vaccine. Penaloza-MacMaster stated Friday that a single vaccine that protects against all coronaviruses is unlikely to be developed. However, several closely-related viruses, such as SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV-2, may eventually be covered by one vaccine. The study also suggested public health officials can prepare for the next pandemic by stockpiling multiple vaccine candidates and testing them as soon as a closely related virus emerges, an approach the authors said may slow down viral transmission and mitigate clinical outcomes, until more antigenically-matched vaccines are developed.
Continue reading
Science: The Dream Vaccine
Super-immunity COVID: One of the great pandemics puzzles (Nature).
Scientists Search for a Vaccine to Prevent the Next Pandemic (Wall Street Journal).
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