Overview

• Research published in the journal 'Cell' shows that administering COVID-19 vaccine doses in the same arm significantly speeds up antibody production within the first week after the second dose.
• The study, led by scientists from the University of New South Wales and the Garvan Institute, validated findings from mouse models in human trials using the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• B-memory cells, responsible for recognizing pathogens, remain near the injection site, enhancing immune activation when subsequent doses are delivered to the same arm.
• While the accelerated antibody response diminishes over time, the researchers emphasize the potential importance of this effect during pandemics for faster population-level immunity.
• The findings may inform future vaccine designs requiring fewer boosters, though further research is needed to assess long-term clinical relevance and applicability to other vaccines.