The Los Angeles Times summarizes the results of a new medical study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago. Those who received a booster shot eight months after they were immunized against COVID-19 saw their levels of neutralizing antibodies increase.
One week after the booster shot, the median level of these antibodies was 23 times higher than it had been before. Their median post-booster antibody level was three times higher than the average for a group of people who had their second dose of vaccine after a few weeks. It was 53 times higher than the group of 76 people who had recovered from COVID-19. A group of 73 people who had weathered a bout with COVID-19 and went on to get two doses of the vaccine had a median antibody level that was 32% higher.
According to the study leader, the data shows that a booster shot is likely to increase her immunity even if she is well protected. The protection afforded by the booster should last longer than the initial two-shot regimen because scientists expect large antibody responses to create more durable immunity.
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After receiving two doses of vaccine, people who'd already had an infectious disease were no better protected than people who hadn't been exposed.
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