Overview

• Researchers from the Garvan and Kirby Institutes have confirmed that same-arm booster shots generate faster and stronger immune responses in humans.
• Macrophages in lymph nodes near the injection site play a key role, priming memory B cells for efficient antibody production during same-arm boosting.
• A clinical trial with 30 participants receiving Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines showed significantly faster neutralizing antibody production within one week for same-arm boosters.
• Antibodies from the same-arm group were more effective against variants like Delta and Omicron, offering critical early protection during outbreaks.
• The findings, published in the journal Cell, could inform future vaccination guidelines and aid in designing next-generation vaccines with fewer boosters.