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Our defense against corona works better than expected. More than six months later, antibodies can still be found in their blood in more than 90 percent of the people who became infected with the corona virus. Those antibodies have also become stronger. That also offers hope for the vaccine.
Annemieke van Dongen & Marlies van Leeuwen 11/26/20, 14:41 Last update: 19:15
This is shown by research by the RIVM , for which blood samples from more than 6,500 people were examined.The Sanquin blood bank previously observed that the amount of antibodies in the blood of people infected with the corona virus actually decreased.
The RIVM’s measurement data therefore provide a different, considerably more positive picture. More than half a year later, antibodies are still present in the blood of more than 90 percent of people whose blood antibodies against the corona virus have been found.
Longer and stronger
The difference is in the type of antibody that has been measured, explains researcher Fiona van der Klis of the RIVM. “We see that the antibody that provides long-term protection remains present for a long time and is actually getting stronger.”
Another type of antibody did indeed decrease over time, as Sanquin blood bank concluded earlier. It is an antibody that forms the body’s first line of defense against corona, explains Van der Klis. “As the first response, the body produces this type of antibody quickly. This gives the body time to arrange more customization. Then it makes way for antibodies of the type that provide protection in the longer term. ”
Hope for vaccine
Whether that also means that the vaccines that are on the way will work longer? The research leader is afraid to say that. “Vaccines involve slightly different processes in the body than natural infections. But I would be surprised if these vaccines are only effective for a very short time. The sounds are really beneficial. ”
Immunologist Ger Rijkers also speaks of positive news. “Two hundred days is a long time. This also offers good hope for vaccines. Ultimately, these antibodies will also disappear from the body, but in the meantime your body has built up a memory. If you become infected with the virus again, your body produces new antibodies super fast. ”
Infected second time
The examples of people who became infected with the corona virus two or even three times are incidents, according to Rijkers. “Not everyone has an equally effective immune system, which is why some get the virus twice. That also happens with other infectious diseases. But the vast majority of people are protected after one go. ”
By measuring antibodies in the blood, RIVM examines how many people in the population have been in contact with the virus. Most people dealing with the virus produce antibodies. The research is being conducted with people of different ages and in different municipalities throughout the Netherlands.
Young people more often have antibodies
The new results of the study show that 4.9 percent of the participants have antibodies in the blood and have therefore been infected with the virus. In reality, there are more now, as the blood was drawn in September and early October – before the peak of the second wave.
Young adults, between the ages of 20 and 35, are by far the most likely to have antibodies: in the spring this was 4 to 5 percent in that age category, after the summer about 10 percent. No differences can be seen in the figures up to the beginning of October between men and women and people of different ethnic origins. There are major regional differences: in North Brabant, Limburg and the large cities, many more people have antibodies in their blood than in the North Netherlands.
Children
Children under 15 are the group with by far the least antibodies in the blood. This is striking, because infections in schools raise many questions about the role of children in the spread of the virus . “Compared to young adults, children are much less likely to have antibodies in their blood,” says Van der Klis. “We know they can get infected. Children may have a much more active immune system that responds quickly and adequately to the virus. But we don’t know exactly how that works. ”
The immune system is a wonderful and complex mechanism, explains the RIVM researcher . “In our research we only looked at antibodies. They are produced by a certain type of immune cell , which work together with other types of immune cells , T cells , to defend the body. Our research into antibodies is a piece of the puzzle in a complex puzzle. ”
Puzzle piece
A puzzle piece that offers hope, she confirms. “The fact that long-term antibodies are increasing and improving over the course of six months is really positive news.”
At the end of last month , the Sanquin blood bank reported that an estimated 6.2 percent of the Dutch population had antibodies against the corona virus at that time . The data from blood donors then showed that the differences within the Netherlands are getting smaller. Where previously people in the Northern Netherlands had barely built up immunity, that percentage had risen to 3.9 percent by the end of October. In North Brabant and Limburg, the percentage with antibodies actually fell, from about 10 percent to 8.5 percent.
Blood bank
A month ago, the Sanquin blood bank already reported that an estimated 6.2 percent of the Dutch develop antibodies against the corona virus . That was a slight increase from May, when it was still at 5.4 percent. At the end of October, an estimated 11 percent of 18- to 40-year-olds from large cities were immune to the coronavirus.
The data from blood donors also showed that the differences within the Netherlands are decreasing. Where previously people in the Northern Netherlands had barely built up immunity, that percentage had increased to 3.9 percent by the end of October. In North Brabant and Limburg, the percentage with antibodies actually fell, from about 10 percent to 8.5 percent.
