“From our analysis we have seen that the drop in antibodies at six months is drastic, but this does not yet clarify how to act on the third dose, it takes months to have reliable data”. These are the words of Francesco Scaglione, head of pharmacology at the Niguarda hospital in Milan, microbiologist and lecturer at the University of Milan, who, consulted by the Dire agency, confirms what was claimed by the American experts of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Cdc) and also by Anthony Maw.
Scaglione, who is also a member of the Italian Pharmacology Society, conducted an antibody response analysis on 3000 healthcare workers at Niguarda, 14 days after full cycle administration, three months, six months and will complete the survey in one year. from the two doses, if there is no need to do a third dose first.
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“We started among the first in Italy, in January – he explains – our goal was to know the immune response to vaccines in various phases: at 14 days, at three months, at six months and at one year, on a large health population and heterogeneous, there are in fact health workers under the age of 30 but also professionals over the age of 65 “.
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“At 14 days we saw that the antibody response reached over 90%, except in 4 subjects who take antisuppressive drugs; our study is about to be published on this phase in an authoritative scientific journal”, explains Scaglione.
“At three months the decline was modest, in the measure of 10-20%, with few cases at 20%. At the control at six months, however, two things happened” continues the scholar: “in 50-60% of the subjects the antibody titer was reduced between 50 and 60%. Furthermore, in subjects vaccinated but who contracted covid without infection, both before the first dose and after receiving the vaccine, the antibody response remained high. more, the correct choice of giving a single dose to those who have made the covid but also tells us more – adds Scaglione – that is, the antibodies in people who have come into contact with the virus work better “.
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“We do not know if a third dose is needed after the drop in antibodies for everyone, including healthcare professionals. Working on clinical patients – he explains – the idea I have is that the third dose on fragile patients is precautionary: it is like a safety belt. safety, we do not know if there will be an accident, but it is better to wear it. For the risk-benefit ratio, the third dose on the fragile is in favor of the recall “.
The research underway at Niguarda does not solve the dilemma “but puts us in a position to accelerate the data on the third dose for the frail – reiterates Scaglione – and for this reason we will anticipate the checks twelve months after administration, because the mathematical models indicate that the antibodies go down quickly”.
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Scaglione in his research also evaluates the antibody response with T lymphocytes “but it is not certain – he explains – that despite having this title there is certainty of specific protection. T-response tests have been used for a short time and the variability of the data is too much high, I work with even fragile patients I need a certainty not a hypothesis. We will have the definitive data for a decision in a few months, so we have to wait “, he concludes.
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