Thread by @sailorrooscout

This is so encouraging! A recent study demonstrates detection and longitudinal persistence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the upper respiratory tract following COVID-19 vaccination. What does this mean? Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection AND transmission! Let’s discuss!

Researchers enrolled 114 individuals who had received their first dose of Moderna’s vaccine within 3-7 days and collected oral mucosal fluid samples on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 after each vaccine dose. Of those who were naive (no history of previous infection) to SARS-CoV-2

(n = 89), 79 (85.4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by time point 2 (10 days +/-2 days after first vaccine dose), and 100% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG by time point 3 (15 days +/-2 days after first vaccine dose). And that’s with just one dose!

Additionally, researchers collected paired oral mucosal fluid and anterior nares samples from 10 individuals who received both doses of vaccine. They found that participants had an average SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody concentration of 2496.0 +/-2698.0ng/mL in nasal mucosal fluid

versus 153.4 +/-141.0ng/mL in oral mucosal fluid. So, let’s break this down. First off, IgM antibodies are the largest antibody. They are found in blood and lymph fluid and are the first type of antibody made in response to an infection. These guys are important. Secondly, this

is the one of the first studies of persistent IgG antibody presence in oral and nasal mucosa following COVID-19 vaccination with a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. High antibody concentration at the sites of the primary infection may play a direct role in preventing viral transmission AND

of course additional in-vitro experiments to study the effects of treating SARS-CoV-2 viral cultures with oral mucosal samples from vaccinated individuals would be required to test this hypothesis and provide further evidence demonstrating such but this is HUGE. Knowing that

just one dose of Moderna’s vaccine can produce coronavirus-fighting antibodies in the oral and nasal fluid is encouraging. “Since this is where SARS-CoV-2 makes its entry, antibodies in the mouth and nose should block the virus from getting into the body, effectively providing

‘sterilizing immunity.’ This would also mean vaccinated individuals probably wouldn’t spread the virus through respiratory droplets,” per: pbs.org/newshour/healt…

In conclusion, the vaccines may elicit a strong antibody response in the upper respiratory tract at the sites where primary infection occurs and propagates, thereby preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. If you are interested in this study see: medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

If you’re interested in other studies concerning a variety of vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc.) reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission please see: hividgm.ucsf.edu/sites/hiv.ucsf…

Another study I’d like to add onto this. Researchers here estimate that ONE dose of Moderna’s vaccine reduces the potential for transmission by AT LEAST 61%, possibly considerably more. You can find that study here: medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

Note/Edit: I meant IgG not IgM (on one part of this thread). IgG antibodies are found in ALL body fluids. They are indeed the most common antibodies found in the body and are vital in fighting viral infections.