Study Shows Original COVID-19 Vaccines Do Not Prevent Immune Response to Variants

Recent research indicates that the initial COVID-19 vaccinations do not entirely hinder the immune system from responding effectively to emerging variants like delta and omicron. A study led by the University of Arizona Health Sciences found that while there was a slight decrease in mutation-specific antibody production, vaccinated individuals still mounted a robust immune response. Published in Nature Immunology, the research analyzed antibody responses in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals infected with different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The study, titled 'Intrinsic immunogenicity is a major determinant of type-specific responses in post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections,' suggests that prior vaccination enhances overall antibody production against variants, despite a modest reduction in antibodies targeting mutated regions of the virus. Deepta Bhattacharya, Ph.D., highlighted that even those with no prior immunity, who encountered delta or omicron first-time, produced weaker responses against the mutated parts but still generated meaningful protection.

Furthermore, the findings imply that phenomena like antigenic imprinting, which could suppress responses to new mutations, may be less impactful than previously thought regarding SARS-CoV-2. The study also underscores the importance of future vaccine strategies focused on eliciting broad immune responses, targeting the entire virus rather than only specific parts, to counteract viral evolution.

This research offers valuable insights for vaccine development and booster policies, as understanding how immunity adapts to the virus's mutations can lead to more effective immunization strategies. The researchers aim to further investigate the mechanisms behind the suppression of new antibody responses to optimize future vaccine design and administration timing.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-covid-vaccination-immune-variants.html