Tuesday, December 13, 2022

The latest on COVID-19 immunity

Plus more health news |

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How COVID-19 immunity works right now
By Alice Park
Senior Health Correspondent

With much of the world vaccinated, boosted, and/or recovered from COVID-19, I’ve been wondering what that SARS-CoV-2 immunity really means right now. How does immunity from vaccines stack up against infection-derived immunity, and does the combination of being vaccinated and infected provide a double dose of protection?

Researchers don’t have all of these answers yet, but they are beginning to learn some basic truths about COVID-19 immunity. Here’s what they know so far:

  • Vaccines tend to generate higher levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 than natural infections.
  • Antibodies evolve just as the virus does, so over time, antibodies become better at recognizing and blocking viruses.
  • A different part of the immune system, built on T cells, becomes more robust over time, and this response can protect against serious disease—even that triggered by newer variants of the virus.

READ THE STORY.

 
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What else to read
Moderna’s mRNA Skin Cancer Vaccine Shows Early Promise in a New Study
By Alice Park
The company reported encouraging results from a small study.
Read More »
The Case for Cautious COVID Optimism This Winter
By Michael Daignault and Monica Gandhi
Several key factors mean that we're unlikely to face a major COVID-19 surge this winter, argue Drs. Michael Daignault and Monica Gandhi.
Read More »
New Zealand Imposes World’s First Ban on Smoking for Next Generation
By Nick Perry/AP
A law that passed Tuesday states that tobacco can't ever be sold to anybody born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
Read More »
Don't Have Time to Exercise? Do This for 10 Minutes
By Markham Heid
A few minutes of hard exercise with high-intensity interval training can equal—or outpace—much longer workouts. (Originally published in 2017.)
Read More »
The Problem With a Vegan Diet
By Markham Heid
If you've thought about going animal-free, here's what you should know, including the latest research on health effects. (Originally published in 2016.)
Read More »
One Last Read
Telehealth startups are leaking your sensitive health data

It’s reasonable to believe that the laws that keep your personal medical information secure at your doctor’s office are also ensuring the same level of protection when you use telehealth or online services.

But, as a joint investigation by STAT and The Markup found, telehealth companies often act as middlemen, rather than providing care themselves—which means the information those teleproviders collect may not be protected by HIPAA.

 

Read More »

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Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and Elijah Wolfson and edited by Mandy Oaklander.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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