A new study looking at the antibodies produced in saliva following the administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emphasizes both the significance of a second vaccine dose and updating the vaccines to fight new variants of concern.

It was noted that the number of antibodies produced and the protection offered by vaccination increased considerably following the second vaccine dose, thus stressing on the importance of the second dose. Investigators also assessed if it protected against Alpha and Beta variants. There appeared to be no reduction in neutralizing antibodies against the Alpha variant; however, a substantial reduction in neutralizing antibodies was evident against the Beta variant. The findings from the study were presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases… (ET Healthworld – IANS, July 11, 2021)