Thread by @BenjaminMeyer85

Short thread on this table which is shared widely and leads to the (false) conclusion that a heterologous boost with 2xPfizer/1xModerna is superior to a homologous boost with 3xPfizer.

1. The moderna booster given in this study was a 100ug dose whereas the approved moderna booster is only a 50ug dose, which would lead to somewhat lower antibody levels. Therefore the difference would be even smaller.

2. Even if the difference between heterologous and homologous booster would hold for the 50ug Moderna dose, the difference is not relevant. Here is why: I assume (and I apologize if this assumption is wrong) that many people look at that table and think if 2xPfizer/1xmoderna

gets me a 17.3 fold increase in antibody titers whereas 3xPfizer leads only to a 14.9 fold increase then my antibodies will be 2.4 fold (17.3-14.9) higher with the heterologous boost. However that is not how math with fold changes works. If for example you have an antibody level

of 100BAU/ml before the booster and have an average immune response, you would get 1730 BAU/ml with 2xPfizer/1xmoderna and 1490 BAU/ml with 3xPfizer. That means the difference in antibody levels is only 1.16 fold (1730/1490) or 16%. This is next to nothing in immunological terms.

Even if statistically significant, immunologists would not consider that biologically relevant. In fact this is within the variance of most commercial antibody tests used in clinical labs.

So don't wait for a better shot to come along. It does not exist. Get boostered of you can with whatever is offered. The best booster you can have is the one in your arm as soon as possible.
#Booster #CovidVaccine #Impfung #boosterdose