There is a very good chance that whatever SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (or vaccines) we end up with will only prevent disease, but not infection. What does this mean? Short thread. (1/n)
Antibodies induced by vaccines or viruses can be neutralizing or non-neutralizing. Neutralizing antibodies don’t just bind viral antigens, but inactivate the virus and prevent infection of new cells. (2/n)
This means that the virus cannot replicate, leave the cell (or individual), and infect a new person. (3/n)
Non-neutralizing antibodies don’t inactivate the virus, allowing it to replicate in the cells of the immunized person. However, non-neutralizing antibodies can still engage other elements of the adaptive immune response and prevent disease in the immunized person. (4/n)
It is possible that prospective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will only induce non-neutralizing antibodies. What does this mean for the community? It means that only the immunized person will be protected from disease, but that person can still act as a carrier... (5/n)
... and potentially infect other, non-immunized people and cause disease in those people. This could cause issues with people who can’t receive vaccines, such as people with immune deficiencies or cancer patients. (6/7)
However, even a vaccine that does not protect from infection but prevents disease in the vaccine recipient will still make a huge positive difference in terms of the pandemic. (end)
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