The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiucruz) yesterday carried out the second phase of sample collection for seroconversion research after the COVID-19 vaccination, at the Hospital Da Palia, in Bairro Souadad, in the eastern region of Belo Horizonte. The first phase of the research indicates that 89% of the employees who took the CoronaVac vaccine – developed by Chinese pharmacist Sinovac in partnership with the Botantan Institute – showed antibodies to the virus. The aim is to assess the immune response of health professionals in the establishment after the second dose of vaccinations. Studies have shown a decrease in antibodies over time in normal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Blood collection for the new phase of research was performed 30 days after application of the second dose of immunization. In total, 440 employees voluntarily participated in the tests, and the employees received the results of the tests collected in the first phase of the research, which were conducted at the beginning of March – after the first dose of the vaccine – to determine whether or not the antibodies were present. SARS – two.
Of the total number of tests, 89% were reagents and 11% were reagents. However, ViolaRose researcher Rafaela Fortini is reassured about the non-reagents. “The available methodologies may have difficulty recognizing the antibodies that are already present, and the samples are diagnosed as non-reactive. But these people should not feel that they are not immune. They may have responses while they are protected,” he noted.
It highlights the importance of research in the current time of the pandemic. “We are living in a scenario that displays new mutations and variants. On the other hand, there are vaccines to come. Studies like this allow a better understanding of how these vaccines work in developing the immune response against strains we already know and new variants,” the researcher highlights.
According to Fiucrose, the tests involve analyzing a sample (usually blood, serum, or plasma) to show the presence or amount of antibody produced by the immune system. Antibodies are proteins (immunoglobulins) that protect people from microscopic invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and toxins. The study allows not only to measure the intensity and duration of antibody responses, but also to investigate the ability to neutralize the virus.
