A study carried out by German researchers and published in the Science Immunology journal revealed that the third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines produces an increased proportion of IgG4 antibodies. This subclass of antibodies is known to elicit a mild immune response that is related to COVID mortality.
IgG4 antibodies produced by the body after booster mRNA vaccines are intended to help people adjust to allergies. However the study found that they may worsen the immune response against COVID which "might result in longer viral persistence in case of infection."
"Pfizer and Moderna better get this clarified," tweeted Farid Jalali, a Californian gastroenterologist and, at the time, staunch vaccine advocate.
IgG4 antibodies constituted only 0.04% of all IgG subclasses from the second dose of mRNA booster, the German study notes. The very high concentration of this fourth subclass started to occur after the third vaccination dose and reached a maximum of 19.27% among all IgG subclasses. The researchers who authored the study claim that two doses are more protective than three.
The increase in IgG4 "might result in longer viral persistence in case of infection," according to the researchers. The findings "may have consequences for the choice and timing" of mRNA vaccine regimens, including subsequent boosters.
Just The News asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a response about this study and how the finding might affect the continuation of mRNA booster vaccination in the future. The FDA said it would not be able to give an answer until January while the CDC did not respond to the request for comment. Pfizer and Moderna also did not respond.
Although the fourth subclass can still neutralize the virus and IgG antibodies are not the only defense, the German research said it "offers more evidence that mRNA booster campaigns need to be immediately restricted."
This is not the first study to question the efficacy of COVID vaccines
The Cleveland Clinic conducted a recent study of more than 50,000 of its employees to test the efficacy of the "bivalent" vaccine, intended to protect people from the original COVID strain and Omicron variants.
The health center revealed that these vaccines were only 30% effective in preventing infection against the virus variants. According to the research, antibody boosters may even increase the likelihood of contracting the coronavirus.
