A new study published in
Science Translational Medicine reveals that people who have contracted COVID-19 might benefit from protection against certain types of common colds. These findings pave the way for potential improvements to COVID-19 vaccines.
Illustration image Unsplash
The study, led by Dr. Manish Sagar, examined the COVID-19 PCR tests of over 4,900 individuals who saw a doctor between November 2020 and October 2021. The results show that those who had been infected with COVID-19 were 50% less likely to develop a symptomatic cold caused by coronaviruses compared to those who were fully vaccinated but had not contracted COVID-19.
The researchers identified that this protection was linked to immune responses against two specific viral proteins not present in current vaccines. This could indicate new paths for more effective vaccines.
Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist, emphasizes that these results do not undermine the effectiveness of current vaccines, which remain the best protection against severe forms of COVID-19. However, he considers the possibility of adding these new targets to vaccines for broader immunity.
In conclusion, this study proposes innovative strategies to improve protection against coronaviruses by using natural immune responses as a model for future vaccines.