Formation of immunity
Before vaccination, many people want to know when they will develop antibodies to coronavirus. According to Alexander Gorelov, Deputy Director for Research at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, immunity begins to form after 32–45 days. The maximum amount of antibodies is produced after 56 days, which is equal to four incubation periods.
The Russian Sputnik V vaccine is based on a genetically modified adenovirus. The drug is vector-based and non-hazardous, since the adenovirus does not contain a reproduction gene.
“Particles made from adenovirus are not alive. Living are those particles, those objects that can reproduce their own kind. These particles cannot reproduce. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that they can do something bad in our body,” Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Center, previously explained.
The vaccine delivers a virus to the body, to which an immune response begins to be produced. The drug “Sputnik V” is two-vector, that is, it has two different adenoviruses. At the first stage, a person is given a vaccine with the adenovirus AD26-S, and then with AD5-S. The second vaccination allows for longer lasting immunity.
Seven myths about immunity
Myth No. 1. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system
Vitamin C is believed to strengthen the immune system, but this is not entirely true. By taking ascorbic acid daily, you cannot avoid a cold; you can only slightly reduce some of the symptoms of the disease.
Many people are also convinced of the benefits of zinc. In fact, it does not help with colds and does not strengthen the immune system as significantly as is believed.
Vitamin D, also called solar vitamin, is truly effective because it is formed in skin cells under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Under their influence, the body's defense cells are activated, which is very important for the immune system. Perhaps this is why we are especially susceptible to infections during the cold season, when daylight hours are short and a lack of sunlight leads to vitamin D deficiency, which weakens the immune system. A lot of vitamin D is found in fish, especially sardines, salmon, salmon and fish oil. In this regard, to strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to eat fish, and after eating, be sure to take long walks.
Myth No. 2. Vaccinations? No, because every disease creates its own immunity
People who grew up in large families with brothers and sisters who infected each other with various infections, and those who spent their childhood in rural areas, subsequently suffer from diseases much less often than only children in the family, moreover, living in city apartments . It is at an early age that our immune system needs such viral training in order to become resistant to dangerous pathogens.
Under no circumstances should you refuse vaccinations. They are made, first of all, against deadly diseases that cause serious complications. According to statistics, in the absence of immunity, the risk of complications is much higher.
Myth No. 3. Sport strengthens the immune system
It is known that those who exercise several times a week get sick less often, and when they get sick, they recover faster. The fact is that regular physical education activates and mobilizes the body's defenses. All things being equal, cancer patients who exercise despite their illness are more likely to survive than those who are virtually immobile due to their illness.
However, a sense of proportion must be observed, since excessively intense training is harmful to health. In such cases, sport becomes a stress factor for the body, especially if it is accompanied by psychological pressure in the form of competition. In such a state, a person is especially susceptible to disease. It has been proven that professional athletes get sick more often than amateurs.
The golden rule for everyone is to stop training during illness until complete recovery. Otherwise, even a common cold can lead to deadly complications, such as myocarditis. Sport is good for health within reasonable limits.
Myth No. 4. If you have good immunity, vaccinations are not necessary
This is wrong. There are risk groups. People who enter them are especially vulnerable to disease and are more likely to suffer from complications. Thus, seasonal flu is dangerous for the elderly and chronically ill. For a child who has never been vaccinated, whooping cough can be fatal. And the virus that causes rubella, when it enters the body of an expectant mother, harms not so much herself as the unborn baby. The disease is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus develops congenital deformities.
Often people are carriers of dangerous microorganisms, and at the same time they themselves do not get sick. Therefore, experts advise vaccinations not only for those who are at risk, but also for those who work or live near them.
Myth No. 5. The stronger the cold, the weaker the immune system
Experts have been convinced of this for a long time, but this statement is only partly true. For example, when the influenza virus enters the body, the less the immune system resists the pathogen, the more sick the person is. This can be avoided if the immune system is prepared and strengthened by vaccination. It also protects against complications that often arise due to severe disease.
Myth No. 6. If the body has coped with the disease, then it does not threaten in the future.
This statement is only partially true. When a microbe enters the body, the human immune system defeats it, developing a specific defense against foreign agents - antibodies. When the pathogen re-enters the body, these active particles neutralize the microbe, and the person remains healthy. That is why people get sick with childhood infectious diseases once in a lifetime, gaining lasting immunity to them.
But respiratory infections can be caused by various pathogens, the number of which reaches up to 200. This means that the immune system may not recognize one of them, and the person will get sick again. And the influenza virus mutates at a high speed, so during a new outbreak of a seasonal disease, the immune system does not respond to it, and as a result, an epidemic develops.
Myth No. 7. If the immune system is strong, then there will be no high temperature
An increase in body temperature indicates that the body is trying to cope with the disease. The immune reaction takes effect - a protective factor such as interferon begins to be produced. This happens at a body temperature of 38 degrees, so “knocking it down” is not recommended. An exception is made only for those who do not tolerate hyperthermia. Experts believe that people who get sick without a fever have a weakened immune system.
However, very high temperatures weaken the body and can become dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to focus not only on the thermometer readings, but, first of all, on the patient’s well-being.
Olga Karulina, doctor at the Regional Center for Medical Prevention
Fight against different strains
Over time, the coronavirus began to mutate more and more. Scientists around the world are finding new strains and warning about them. Those who have been vaccinated should not be afraid of changes in the coronavirus. After vaccination, the body is protected.
“The main parameters of the coronavirus remain the same: to penetrate the body, it needs S-protein - the spike protein with which it clings to the human cell. And if this protein suddenly mutates, then the coronavirus will lose the ability to attack a person,” explained allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok.
As long as the protein remains in its original form, the antibodies produced will continue to attack it. This applies to a wide variety of coronavirus strains.
“So immunity to one strain of coronavirus will protect against another. Maybe some are a little better, others are a little worse, but there will still be immunity protection,” the doctor noted.
How many antibodies should there be after vaccination?
What is the optimal amount of antibodies after vaccination against COVID-19? Is it true that after vaccination against pneumococcus, antibodies are produced that can protect against COVID-19?
I. Likhacheva, Voronezh
Professor Sergei Yakovlev, professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy at Sechenov University, answers :
– Antibodies reflect only humoral immunity, but there is also cellular immunity. In some patients who have had coronavirus, high antibodies are initially detected (the norm is more than 10), and after 2-3 months they sharply decrease. People are starting to worry. They ask me: after the disease, the antibodies were 40, and then dropped to 15. Why? First of all, no one said that 200 is better than 20. There is no connection between quantitative antibody levels and protection from the virus. Secondly, measurement methods are imperfect and errors are possible. Therefore, there is no need to endlessly measure antibodies. You did it once and that’s enough, live in peace. Antibodies are not an indicator of protection. Even if they are not present in the tests at all, this does not mean that the person does not have cellular immunity. After suffering from the flu, we don’t measure our antibodies. And in the case of coronavirus it is not necessary.
As for pneumococcal infection, the antibodies that are formed after the disease (or vaccination against pneumococcus) are not related to COVID-19. This is a completely different pathogen. Just like the flu shot cannot protect against COVID-19.
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Is it possible to get vaccinated against coronavirus if you have diabetes?
S. Yurchenko, Kalyazin
Answered by the head of the department of endocrinology at Sechenov University, professor, corresponding member. RAS Valentin Fadeev :
– Diabetes mellitus in itself is not a contraindication to vaccination against COVID-19. But if a patient comes to the clinic with very high sugar levels, when his disease is decompensated, it is unwise to vaccinate. We need to stabilize the situation. But after this, it makes sense to discuss the possibility of vaccination with your doctor, weighing all the pros and cons. Patients with diabetes are at risk for a complicated course of coronavirus infection. Therefore, vaccination is even indicated for them provided that diabetes is adequately controlled and treated. However, the complicated course of the infection most likely refers to decompensated diabetes. By the way, this can be any infection, not just coronavirus. The same flu in such a situation can also lead to the development of severe complications.
Yes, some patients don't know they have diabetes. But this does not mean that everyone needs to determine their sugar level before getting vaccinated. There are clear indications for this. So the vast majority of patients with diabetes, which they know about, control and treat, can and should be vaccinated.
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Antibody transfer
As scientists have found, antibodies after vaccination against coronavirus can be transmitted from mother to child. Deputy Director for Clinical and Analytical Work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Natalya Pshenichnaya stated that they can be passed on to the baby while breastfeeding. The same information was confirmed by Gintsburg.
“Antibodies can be transmitted through the placenta. A certain class of antibodies can be transmitted, and this is good, nature provided for this,” said the director of the center.
Antibodies received from the mother can remain in the baby’s body for two to three months, noted virologist and former chief infectious disease specialist in Moscow Nikolai Malyshev.
Photo source: pixabay
How many vaccinations can you get?
The Russian Federation has a busy calendar of preventive vaccinations. Wouldn’t it be too much of a burden on the immune system if they introduce another annual coronavirus vaccine?
V. Voronina, Belgorod region.
Answered by infectious disease specialist, pediatrician, chief physician of the Leader Medicine clinic Evgeniy Timakov :
– The main burden of vaccinations occurs before the age of 6 years. After 6 years they are done extremely rarely. Therefore, if a coronavirus vaccine is suddenly added, there will be no additional burden on the immune system.
But I do not consider it advisable to vaccinate children under 12 years of age against coronavirus infection. And over 12 years old - only for children at risk. Because the disease in children, fortunately, is mild. And at the moment there is still no delayed data on the use of the vaccine - its effect, effectiveness, etc. Therefore, I do not see any prerequisites for including the COVID-19 vaccination in the vaccination schedule for children in the next 3 years. We need to wait until all stages of vaccine testing are completed. Now everything is being carried out at an accelerated pace due to the epidemiological situation.
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Vaccination after infection
Probably, many who have recently had Covid have thought about whether to get vaccinated. The head of the laboratory of biotechnology and virology of FEN NSU, Sergei Netesov, explained to “360” that the vaccine can be given after an illness; there are no official recommendations on this matter.
I would still advise against vaccinating those people who have recently experienced an infection, received antibodies and found that they have the same values as those that occur after vaccination
Sergey Netesov.
Leading researcher at Lomonosov Moscow State University Maxim Skulachev shares a similar point of view. The virologist also said that even if there are antibodies in the blood, you can get vaccinated.
“This disease has unpleasant complications, so you need to wait about a month to get the vaccine,” the specialist added.
The virologist also noted that those who already have antibodies in their bodies can only take one injection. For them, according to the specialist, the drug “Sputnik Light” is excellent.
Antibody lifespan
Today, according to experts, antibodies acquired after vaccination will remain in the human body for several months. The developers themselves expect that immunity will last for about two years.
According to Netesov, it is quite possible that patients will have to repeat the vaccine after some long period of time. To find out the exact period, organized monitoring is necessary.
Earlier, the director of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Epidemiology, Alexander Gintsburg, who was vaccinated with the Sputnik V vaccine exactly a year ago, said that now his antibody titer remains high, so there is no need to be vaccinated again.
