Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines generate more antibodies than natural infection: Study

As per a study published in Scientific Reports journal, people who receive the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have antibody levels significantly higher than those infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

A team led by researchers at the University of Montreal in Canada found that these antibodies were also effective against the Delta variant.

“Everyone who had been infected produced antibodies, but older people produced more than adults under 50 years of age,” said Jean-Francois Masson, a professor at the University of Montreal.

“In addition, antibodies were still present in their bloodstream 16 weeks after their diagnosis,” Masson said.

“But the result that surprised us the most was that antibodies produced by naturally infected individuals 50 and older provided a greater degree of protection than adults below 50,” said Joelle Pelletier, a professor at the University of Montreal. “This was determined by measuring the antibodies’ capacity to inhibit the interaction of the Delta variant’s spike protein with the ACE-2 receptor in human cells, which is how we become infected,” he added.