Results of a new study suggest that people who have recovered from the coronavirus need only one dose of vaccine to develop the same degree of immunity as those who receive two doses.
Like The New York Times reports, Florian Krammer, author of the study and a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai, said he believes one shot will be enough for people who have already contracted and recovered from COVID-19.
“It will also save individuals from unnecessary pain when they receive the second dose, and it will free up additional vaccine doses,” Krammer said.
Krammer’s study found that coronavirus survivors had much higher antibody levels after receiving two doses of the vaccine, compared to those who did not develop COVID-19. The study of 231 vaccines included 83 people who contracted the virus.
The study also found that people who had the coronavirus before were more likely to experience unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches and colds after receiving their first vaccination dose.
While some scientists agree with Krammer’s claim, others are not convinced, the Times says.
The director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Immunology, E. John Wherry, told the newspaper that he would like to see data suggesting that the antibodies observed in the study could actually replicate the coronavirus.
“Just because an antibody binds to a part of the virus does not mean it will protect you from infection,” Wherry said.
Some health care officials have argued that the U.S. should prioritize getting the first shot of the vaccine in as many arms as possible.
But Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciBloomberg: More Americans received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine than tested positive. Biden officials defend two-dose strategy amid fears of variants. Watch Live: White House Coronavirus Response Team Holds MORE Information Session, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, said getting a second dose should be prioritized.
“The first priority is to get the people who got their first doses their second dose,” Fauci said.
Biden’s administration insisted that two doses of the vaccine be administered, but it also urged healthcare providers not to be too careful about keeping the second dose of the vaccine in reserve.