University of Hawaii: "COVID-19 Vaccinated Individuals Can Still Transmit the Virus"

Strong Virus Resistance After Recovery from COVID-19 Infection

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A study has found that even people vaccinated against COVID-19 can potentially transmit the virus.

On the 31st (local time), The Hill, a U.S. congressional news outlet, reported citing the latest paper by Dr. Michelle Carbon of the University of Hawaii, confirming that even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, antibodies that protect various mucosal surfaces of the body are not produced, leaving the possibility of virus transmission intact.

According to the paper, 95% of COVID-19 vaccine recipients produce an antibody called IgG (Immunoglobulin G) in their bodies, which circulates and suppresses the massive replication of the COVID-19 virus.

The problem is that among these antibodies, IgA (Immunoglobulin A), which protects mucosal surfaces, is not produced even after vaccination.

This antibody plays a role in preventing viral infection on mucosal surfaces such as the nose, pharynx, and intestines, but all COVID-19 vaccines tested in clinical trials so far only induce the production of IgG antibodies and fail to generate IgA antibodies.

Accordingly, the paper points out that even with the currently available COVID-19 vaccines, the virus can still proliferate on mucosal surfaces such as the oral cavity, nasal cavity, and pharynx.

In particular, people who have recovered from COVID-19 infection were found to have stronger resistance to the virus than vaccinated individuals.

Those who were previously infected with COVID-19 produced both IgA and IgG antibodies, making reinfection very rare.

The research team recommended that people who have recovered from COVID-19 should not receive the vaccine.

This is because naturally infected individuals have resistance to secondary infection that is similar to or stronger than that of vaccinated individuals, and for those already immune, the side effects of the vaccine may outweigh its benefits.

The paper titled "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Our Position, What We Can Do Now, and What We Can Hope For" was published on the 7th in the international academic journal Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

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